Common Name
Ring-tailed Lemur
Species
Lemur catta
Common Classification
Prosimian
Range Countries
Madagascar
Habitat
Inhabit grasses, shrub mosaic, tropical monsoon, and dry forest.
Physical Characteristics
- Head and Body length: 425 mm
- Tail length: 600 mm
- Weight: male – 2,795 g; female – 2,678 g
Distinguishing features
Common name is given because they have a long and strikingly contrasting black and white banded tail, back is gray to brown, face, ears and under-parts are white, eyes are surrounded with a triangular dark brown patch of hair.
Diet
Primarily eat fruit, but supplement diet with leaves, flowers, bark, sap and herbs.
Behavior
Semi-terrestrial, diurnal, group size ranges from 3 to 20 individuals with the average number being on the higher end, females dominant with males transferring between groups.
SOUNDS: Listen to this lemur's calls
Threats
Major threats include land clearing for grazing, firewood and charcoal production, also hunted for food and captured for the pet trade.
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