|
Distribution
|
Madagascar, Southern - Great Spiny Desert
back to top
|
|
Behaviour
|
These are undoubtedly the best known and recognised of all the lemur species. Unlike most lemur species, a large proportion of their time is spent on the forest floor. When travelling in open scrub areas, the trees are spaced too far apart for arboreal travel. Another difference is that ring-tailed lemurs are found in much larger groups averaging about 20 individuals. This is possibly because of the necessity for 'safety in numbers' when down on the ground where they are more exposed to predators.
When they are on the move they carry their tails in an upright position, slightly arched over their backs, using them as a means of keeping in contact. The males also have another use for their tails during territory defence or determining dominance within their groups. On the inside of each arm, just above the wrist, they have a scent gland; their tails are brought through between their legs and rubbed all over the glands, literally anointing them with their own smelly scent. They then charge into battle flinging their very smelly tails up over their heads and waving them furiously in the faces of their opponents. This 'stink fighting' allows them to avoid a physical fight and the risk of an injury. Like most of the lemur species, the female will normally give birth to only one young at a time, occasionally twins. The baby hangs on under the mother to start off with and will then ride around piggy-back fashion as it gets older.
back to top
|
|
Reproduction
|
Ring-tailed lemurs are very seasonal breeders, they mate in November and the babies are born around April - May. Gestation (pregnancy) lasts about 19 weeks. Like most of the lemur species, the female will normally give birth to only one young at a time, occasionally twins. The baby hangs on under the mother to start off with and will then ride around piggy-back fashion as it gets older. They are carried by the female for three months and are fully independent at 1 year old. They reach sexual maturity between 18 months and 2 years old.
back to top
|
|
Appearance
|
The back is primarily grey with a brownish hue (agouti) the same grey extending to the outside of the arms and legs. The belly and inside of the arms and legs are white extending up to the throat and face. The muzzle is black as are the distinctive panda-like patches around the eyes. The crown is a darker grey with the ears a lighter grey with white tufts. The tail is ringed black and white. Like the black & white ruffed lemur there is no visual difference in colour between the sexes.
back to top
|
|
Size
|
Weight: 2.7 kg
Length: 100 cm from nose to tip of tail
back to top
|
|
Social Structure
|
Large troops, averaging around 15 to 20 individuals, with almost equal numbers of adult males to females as well as young animals. Males are often evicted from the group after the offspring are born in spring and form bachelor groups. The females are dominant to the males.
back to top
|
|
Diet
|
Primarily leaves, flowers and fruit though they have also been observed eating bark and insects.
back to top
|
|
Activity Period
|
These are diurnal (day living) primates, at night they will sleep huddled together in tall trees.
back to top
|
|
Predators
|
These lemurs have a lot of predators, large birds of prey, large snakes and fossas (a cat-like animal). They use a range of different alarm calls to indicate which kind of predator is attacking and where it is.
back to top
|
|
Conservation Status
|
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix 1, no hunting or trade allowed
Population estimate: Less then 100,000
back to top
|
|
Threats
|
Habitat destruction - clearance for subsistence farms and large scale sisal plantations, fire wood collection and grazing of domestic livestock.
Hunting - for food and the local pet trade.
back to top
|
|
Ring-Tailed Lemurs available for adoption
|
Berenty, Lacouse, Mangoky, Michelle, Tsingy, Yolande, Zebedee back to top
|
