The mean body weight of a species is often used as a summary measure of size in evolutionary and functional studies. Additionally, body weight is often used to assess the health of captive animals. Contrasts of the captive and wild body weights of a species can be used to examine the effects of captivity on the species. We provide an analysis of adult body weight in nine taxa of Malagasy lemurs. We compare weights of wild and captive lemurs and provide analyses of relationships between captive weight variation and management actions. Body weights are derived from a number of sources, the majority from the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC) capture and husbandry records. Captive animals are, on average, heavier than wild conspecifics. However, the difference is significant in only three taxa (Hapalemur griseus griseus, Eulemur coronatus, E. macaco flavifrons). Based on a retrospective analysis of DUPC records, we assess patterns of adult weight relative to caging conditions and evaluate changes in mean weight over a period of approximately 20 years. Cage type appears to have no effect on body weight. Mean weight has decreased for some taxa housed at the DUPC over time. We calculate a weight‐based criterion for identifying obese animals and demonstrate that obesity is not currently a prevalent condition in DUPC lemurs. Examinations of the physiological correlates of excessive weight, and especially relationships between weight and reproductive success, await further analysis. These analyses need to be based, in part, on reliable measures of body weight. We suggest that systematic weighing of wild and captive animals is important for further examinations of the overall health of captive animals as well as for studies ranging in scope from evolutionary to clinical. Zoo Biol 16:17–30, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The mean body weight of a species is often used as a summary measure of size in evolutionary and functional studies. Additionally, body weight is often used to assess the health of captive animals. Contrasts of the captive and wild body weights of a species can be used to examine the effects of captivity on the species. We provide an analysis of adult body weight in nine taxa of Malagasy lemurs. We compare weights of wild and captive lemurs and provide analyses of relationships between captive weight variation and management actions. Body weights are derived from a number of sources, the majority from the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC) capture and husbandry records. Captive animals are, on average, heavier than wild conspecifics.However, the difference is significant in only three taxa (Hapalemur griseus griseus, Eulemur coronatus, E. macaco flavifrons). Based on a retrospective analysis of DUPC records, we assess patterns of adult weight relative to caging conditions and evaluate changes in mean weight over a period of approximately 20 years. Cage type appears to have no effect on body weight. Mean weight has decreased for some taxa housed at the DUPC over time. We calculate a weight-based criterion for identifying obese animals and demonstrate that obesity is not currently a prevalent condition in DUPC lemurs. Examinations of the physiological correlates of excessive weight, and especially relationships between weight and reproductive success, await further analysis. These analyses need to be based, in part, on reliable measures of body weight. We suggest that systematic weighing of wild and captive animals is important for further examinations of the overall health of captive animals as well as for studies ranging in scope from evolutionary to clinical.

Most nocturnal Malagasy primates, as well as many diurnal species, are highly endangered in their natural habitat. Captive breeding programs have been established for many species, but detailed information on reproduction is only available for three nocturnal taxa: the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), the dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius), and the greater dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus major). In this study, we present data for another nocturnal Malagasy primate, Coquerel's dwarf lemur (Mirza coquereli), which has been propagated since 1982 at the Duke University Primate Center. Unlike all other Malagasy primates bred in captivity, M. coquereli cycles throughout the year, and is clearly less seasonal in its birth distribution than is C . medius or M. murinus. Estrous intervals ranged between 19 and 30.5 days. Estrus lasted no longer than 1 day. After an average gestation length of 89.2 days, litters of one or two were born. Females cycled for the first time between 8 and 15 months of age, and gave birth for the first time between 12.8 and 33.5 months of age. The earliest mating of a male leading to conception was observed at the age of 17 months. For males and females, an increase in daylength appears to trigger pubertal development. Males had seasonal changes in testicular volume which were not explained by covariation with body weight. Maximum testis size occurred in spring, when breeding activity was highest. Thornback, 1990; IUCN, 1992 have bred successfully in captivity, but detailed information on reproduction has been published for only a few.All Malagasy primates studied so far have been described as polyestrous seasonal breeders [e.g., Petter-Rousseaux, 1962, 1964Rasmussen, 1985; Van Horn and Eaton, 19791. This seasonal reproduction is thought to be triggered by a photoperiodic cue that precedes the breeding season by approximately 2 months [Petter-Rousseaux, 1964; Van Horn, 19751. In contrast, reproduction of Coquerel's dwarf lemur ( M . coquereli) seems to be seasonally less restricted in captivity than reproduction of all other Malagasy lemurs studied so far (Duke University Primate Center [DUPC] records).Coquerel's dwarf lemur is nocturnal, arboreal, and omnivorous, feeding on Anacardium fruits, insects, leaves, small birds, chameleons, flowers, buds, gums, and the secretion of Homopteran larvae during the winter months [Andrianarivo, 1977;Petter et al., 1977; Pages, 1978, 19801. Its present distribution appears to be restricted to a few remaining isolates of deciduous dry forest along the west coast of Madagascar. In most areas, M . coquereli live sympatrically with three other nocturnal cheirogaleids, C . medius, M. murinus, and Phaner furcifer [Tattersall, 1982; Harcourt & Thornback, 19901.Only a few data from short term field studies [Petter et al., 1971; Andrianarivo, 1977; Pages, 1978, 19801 are available on the social structure and the mating system of M . coquereli. Males and females live in partially overlapping home ranges, and although each sex may have contact with several other individ...

The Aye‐aye Daubentonia rnadagascariensis is an endangered primate indigenous to Madagascar. Originally identified as a type of squirrel and only recognized as a primate in 1800, it was not until 1992 that successful breeding in captivity occurred. This paper summarizes the morphology, natural history, captive history and captive management of the species. Since 1987 the Aye‐aye has been kept at Duke University Primate Center, the first birth there from a captive mating occurred in 1992. The original 2.2 animals were maintained on local photoperiod but, in 1992, with the arrival of 1.3 wild‐caught Aye‐aye and because there had been no successful breeding to date, a Madagascar photoperiod was instituted. Between 1992 and 1994 five young, of which four were reared, were born at the Center. Because of the animals' selective eating of favoured food items the diet offered had to be amended to include a gruel to reduce the chances of the recurrence of the protein and vitamidmineral deficiency observed in an 11‐month‐old infant.

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