The Amber Mountain fork-marked lemur (Phaner electromontis), Montagne d'Ambre fork-crowned lemur or Tanta
The Amber Mountain fork-marked lemur (Phaner electromontis), also known as the Montagne d'Ambre fork-crowned lemur or Tanta, is a small primate, and like the other lemurs, can only be found on the island of Madagascar. The species is named after the Amber Mountain National Park where they are found.
Habitat
Phaner electromontis is a species of primate mammal of the family Cheirogaleidae.
The species has its range in the Ambre Mountain region of northern Madagascar, and also in the Daraina region. The species inhabits humid and dry tropical forests at an altitude of between 50 and 1500 m above sea level.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has given this species the status of "endangered". Although it covers some 20 000 km², its range is highly fragmented and its numbers are declining. The main threat to the population is habitat destruction due to the development of sapphire mines and expansion of agricultural land.
Conservation
According to the IUCN, the Amber Mountain fork-marked lemur is vulnerable. Its most prominent threat is the annual burning of its habitat. However, population densities are thought to be high within the Montagne d'Ambre region, though the species has not been studied in-depth. It is listed in CITES Appendix I.
