{{Short description|Species of lemur}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Speciesbox | name = Red-fronted lemur | taxon = Eulemur rufifrons | authority = Bennett, 1833<ref name=mitt2>{{cite journal|title=Lemur Diversity in Madagascar|author=Mittermeier, R.|author-link=Russell Mittermeier|author2=Ganzhorn, J.|author3=Konstant, W.|author4=Glander, K.|author5=Tattersall, I.|author6=Groves, C.|author6-link=Colin Groves|author7=Rylands, A.|author8=Hapke, A.|author9=Ratsimbazafy, J.|author10=Mayor, M.|author11=Louis, E.|author12=Rumpler, Y.|author13=Schwitzer, C.|author14=Rasoloarison, R.|name-list-style=amp|journal=International Journal of Primatology|doi=10.1007/s10764-008-9317-y|pages=1607–1656|volume=29|issue=6|date=December 2008|hdl=10161/6237|s2cid=17614597 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> | image = Eulemur rufifrons, Isalo National Park 2007-03-01.jpg | image2 = Red-fronted brown lemur 1.JPG | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Johnson, S. |author2=Narváez-Torres, P.R. |author3=Holmes, S.M. |author4=Wyman, T.M. |author5=Louis, E.E. |author6=Wright, P. |date=2020 |title=''Eulemur rufifrons'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T136269A115581600 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T136269A115581600.en}}</ref> | status2 = CITES_A1 | status2_system = CITES | status2_ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://checklist.cites.org/#/en/search/scientific_name=Eulemur | title = Checklist of CITES Species | website = CITES | publisher = UNEP-WCMC | access-date = 18 March 2015}}</ref> | range_map = Eulemur rufifrons range map.svg | range_map_caption = Distribution of ''E. rufifrons''<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> }}
The '''red-fronted lemur''' ('''''Eulemur rufifrons'''''), also known as the '''red-fronted brown lemur''' or '''southern red-fronted brown lemur''', is a species of lemur from Madagascar. Until 2001, it was considered a subspecies of the common brown lemur, ''E. fulvus''.<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Groves | pages=116 | id=12100046}}</ref> In 2001, ''E. fulvus'' was split into several separate species, including ''Eulemur rufus'', in which this species was included. In 2008, ''E. rufus'' was split into two species, the red lemur (''E. rufus'') and the red-fronted lemur (''E. rufifrons'').<ref name=mitt2/> ''E. rufus'' covers the population on the west coast north of the Tsiribihina River and ''E. rufifrons'' covers the population on the west coast south of the Tsiribihina River and the population in eastern Madagascar.<ref name=mitt2/> The species split was based on genetic and morphological evidence.<ref name=mitt2/> Mitochondrial DNA analysis indicates that ''E. rufifrons'' may be more closely related to the common brown lemur (''E. fulvus''), white-headed lemur (''E. albifrons'') and Sanford's brown lemur (''E. sanfordi'') than it is to ''E. rufus''.<ref name=mitt2/>
thumb|left|Two individuals from Kirindy The red-fronted lemur lives on the western coast of Madagascar between the Tsiribihina River to the north and south of the Fiheranana River and in eastern Madagascar from the Mangoro River and Onive River to the Andringitra Massif.<ref name=mitt2/> It lives in dry lowland forests.<ref name="mitt">{{cite book|title=Lemurs of Madagascar|edition=Second|publisher=Conservation International|author=Mittermeier, R.|author2=Louis, E.|pages=275–277|year=2006|isbn=1-881173-88-7|display-authors=etal}}</ref> It has a head and body length of {{convert|35|to|48|cm|in}} and with a {{convert|45|to|55|cm|in}} tail.<ref name="mitt"/> Its weight ranges between {{convert|2.2|and|2.3|kg|lb}}. It has a gray coat and black face, muzzle and forehead, plus a black line from the muzzle to the forehead, with white eyebrow patches.<ref name="mitt"/> It displays sexual dimorphism with the males having white or cream colored cheeks and beards, while females having rufous or cream cheeks and beards that are less bushy than males.<ref name="mitt"/>
There is considerable geographic variation in the natural history of this species. Western populations tend to have smaller home ranges and higher population densities than eastern populations, although group size tends to be fairly consistent (generally 4–18 animals, averaging 8–9).<ref name="mitt" /> None of the studied populations show dominance hierarchies and aggression tends to be low.<ref name="mitt" />
Diet is diverse, encompassing leaves, seeds, fruit, nectar and flowers, but more so in eastern populations. Western populations tend to rely more on leaves for their diet.<ref name="mitt" /> Western populations are primarily diurnal, but increase nocturnal activity during the dry season, while eastern populations show less such dichotomy.<ref name="mitt" />
Reproduction is seasonal. In western populations one male usually monopolizes all the females in the group, while in eastern populations such monopolization is less typical.<ref name="mitt" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Eulemur rufifrons|Red-fronted lemur|position=left}}
{{Lemuridae nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q249153}}
Category:True lemurs Category:Mammals described in 1833 Category:Taxa named by Edward Turner Bennett Category:Arboreal mammals