The oestrous cycle of the brown lemur, Lemur fulvus

Abstract

Examination of vaginal smears and observations of the color and tumescence of the genitalia and discharge of mucus of 9 brown lemurs [L. fulvus fulvus and L. fluvus rufus] indicated that the estrous cycle lasted for 30 days and that cycles occurred between Sept. and July. The timing of cycles of females housed in visual isolation differed from that of females able to see other lemurs, indicating that the estrous cycle in this species can be influenced by different housing conditions.