top of page

Vocalizations of Malagasy Lemurs

While the vocalizations of Madagascar's birds are well-known and well-recorded, the same can not be said of its lemurs. This huge radiation of primates, which is endemic to Madagascar, contains an incredibly diverse range of species, which give a correspondingly diverse range of vocalizations. But despite that, there are few audio recordings of these animals, and the current field guides barely discuss vocalizations, despite these being one of the most effective ways to detect and identify lemurs. Sometimes it pays to apply a birding mentality to other groups! I will add to this page as I continue to record lemurs. For the moment, this page includes the vocalizations of 16 lemur species

MOUSE & DWARF LEMURS: Cheirogaleidae
50967730258_1f27844171_c.jpg

Sambirano Fork-marked Lemur

Phaner parienti

Penetrating "chap", perhaps a contact call. 

AMBANJA

00:00 / 00:21

Chuckling call.

AMBANJA

00:00 / 00:10
TRUE LEMURS: Lemuridae
white-fronted brown lemur_fb.jpg

White-fronted Brown Lemur

Eulemur albifrons

Typical low-pitched grunting calls.

MAROJEJY NP

00:00 / 00:26
50381143588_1022b01e24_k_edited.jpg

Crowned Lemur

Eulemur coronatus

Typical grunting calls and several very loud alarm screams.

MONTAGNE DES FRANÇAIS

00:00 / 01:19

Softer screams.

MONTAGNE DES FRANÇAIS

Hoots and softer screams. Given at night. Torotoroko Scops-Owl in the background

MONTAGNE DES FRANÇAIS

00:00 / 00:12
00:00 / 00:25
Blue-eyed Black-Lemur male_fb.jpg

Blue-eyed Black Lemur

Eulemur flavifrons

Strident "chak" calls, and quieter, lower-pitched grunting. Latter call typical of genus

MAROMANDIA

00:00 / 00:41
24086681679_f350d3a08e_c.jpg

Common Brown Lemur

Eulemur fulvus

Classic grunting calls. 

BEMENEVIKA

00:00 / 00:28

Classic grunting calls and loud alarm calls. 

BEMENEVIKA

00:00 / 00:40
50968498296_e65da72101_c.jpg

Mongoose Lemur

Eulemur mongoz

Classic Eulemur grunting. There may also be Common Brown Lemur on this recording, as the two species were closely associated. 

ANKARAFANTSIKA NP

00:00 / 00:33
Red-bellied Lemur_fb.jpg

Red-bellied Lemur

Eulemur rubriventer

Grunting calls from a male. 

RANOMAFANA NP

00:00 / 00:26
15829306024_2d6317d326_c.jpg

Red-fronted Brown Lemur

Eulemur rufifrons

Classic Eulemur grunting and a couple of alarm calls. 

RANOMAFANA NP

00:00 / 01:03
Sanford's Brown Lemur1_fb.jpg

Sanford's Brown Lemur

Eulemur sanfordi

Quiet grunting calls, and one fast chuckling call. 

ANKARANA NP

00:00 / 00:29
Ring-tailed Lemur_fb.jpg

Ring-tailed Lemur

Lemur catta

Grunting calls, and plaintive mews. 

TSARANORO VALLEY

Barking calls and plaintive whistles. 

TSARANORO VALLEY

00:00 / 01:11
00:00 / 00:21

Plaintive, descending calls, and quiet barking. 

TSARANORO VALLEY

00:00 / 00:29

Barking calls. Madagascar Black Swift and Harrier-Hawk in the background. 

TSARANORO VALLEY

00:00 / 00:32
Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur_fb.jpg

Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur

Varecia variegata

Aggressive roars and higher squeals. Another classic Malagasy natural sound.

MANTADIA NP

00:00 / 00:38
SPORTIVE LEMURS: Lepilemuridae
50967727953_18780414cc_c.jpg

Sambirano Sportive Lemur

Penetrating "chap", perhaps a contact call. 

AMBANJA

Lepilemur sambiranensis

00:00 / 00:31

Loud screaming call. Given singly or doubled.

AMBANJA

00:00 / 00:40
24370911012_1bdf45d5a4_c.jpg

Small-toothed Sportive Lemur

Quavering whistle.

VOHIPARARA SECTION, RANOMAFANA NP

Lepilemur microdon

Long whistle.

VOHIPARARA SECTION, RANOMAFANA NP

00:00 / 00:15
00:00 / 00:10
SIFAKAS & WOOLLY LEMURS: Indriidae
Indri3_fb.jpg

Indri

Indri indri

One of the world's great natural sounds! 

ANALAMAZAOTRA NP

00:00 / 00:27

All-black morph. 

ANJOJOROBE

00:00 / 00:19
16324078612_ca190e2aac_c.jpg

Milne-Edwards's Sifaka

Propithecus edwardsi

Sneezing "seee-fak" call that gives this genus its common name.

RANOMAFANA NP

00:00 / 00:41

"Seee-fak" calls RANOMAFANA NP

00:00 / 00:13
Verreaux's Sifaka7_fb.jpg

Verreaux's Sifaka

Propithecus verreauxi

Grunts, "seee-fak" calls, and trills.

MANDRARE

00:00 / 00:08

Very quiet, low-pitched growls.

ZOMBITSE

00:00 / 01:34

Loud, explosive calls.

ZOMBITSE

00:00 / 00:08
AYE-AYE: Daubentoniidae

(No recordings of this monotypic family yet. Stay posted!)

bottom of page