Blue-eyed Black Lemur (Eulemur flavifrons) Fact Sheet: Diet & Feeding

Vegetarian (from Volampeno 2009 unless otherwise noted)

• Consume fruit and leaves most often (Schwitzer et al. 2013; Volampeno 2009)
• Flowers and buds also eaten
• Insects, lizards, and soil are eaten on rare occasions
• Taken opportunistically
• Rely on a wide variety of plants
• 37 plant species from 23 families; one study of lactating females (Volampeno 2009)

Hands pick up food items (Hill 1953; Volampeno 2009)

• Item placed in the lateral part of the mouth to be eaten (Hill 1953)
• Cheek-teeth used to bite into food (Hill 1953)
• Modified incisors (tooth-comb) are not used to bite into food
• Both hands help hold large fruits while eaten (Volampeno 2009)

Blue-eyed black lemurs are vegetarians. Their diet is diverse; 37 plant species belonging to 23 families are known to be exploited by these animals. The lemurs most often eat fruits and leaves, which they hold between their hands while using the cheek-teeth to chew off small bites.

Image credit: © D Haring/Duke Lemur Center. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission from the artist.

Hill (1953)
Schwitzer et al. (2013)
Volampeno (2009)