Feeding
A male crowned lemur feeds on new oak leaves. Click image for larger version.
Although the diet of crowned lemurs varies with the seasons, it contains a high percentage of fruit with relatively few leaves. During both wet and dry seasons, fruit comprises as much as 80% to 90% of the crowned lemur diet. They prefer drier forests, existing in higher densities in these habitats than in adjacent humid forests. In fact, the crowned lemurs may be found in the more humid areas only because they have been forced out of their preferred dry habitat by human interference. Crowned lemurs generally feed lower in the forest than Sanford's lemurs, which may help avoid aggressive interactions between these two species. Crowned lemurs often forage in scrubby bushes and short trees, and routinely come to the ground. In dry areas, the animals may venture deep into caves in search of water.