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Ring-tailed lemur
Lemur catta
Animal facts
Lemurs come from the island of Madagascar.
The Ring-tailed lemur is a largely terrestrial species, spending more time on the ground than any of the other types of lemur. These lemurs are easily recognised by their distinctive black-and-white-ringed tails.
They are cat-like in their body proportions and their latin name ‘Lemur catta’ is thought to be a reference to their similarity.
Both males and females mark their territory boundaries. Females smear scent from their genitals while males use scent from their wrist gland.
Lemurs are social animals, living in groups of up to 25 individuals. Together they form an effective early warning system against predators such as the Fossa.
Like some other types of lemur, the ring-tails like to ‘sunbathe’ and can often be seen sitting with outstretched limbs on a sunny day.
Where they live
South and South West Madagascar
Habitat
Lemurs inhabit dry brush and scrub, as well as closed canopy forest. They can be found in open areas and will move between the trees as well as walking on the ground.
What they eat
They feed on flowers, fruit, leaves, bark and sap from over 30 different plants.
IUCN status
Like most lemurs the ring-tails face many threats, especially habitat loss. Fires, over-grazing, tree-felling and development all have a large impact on the distribution of this lemur. In some parts of Madagascar the ring-tailed lemur is hunted and individuals are kept as pets.
The ring-tailed lemur is classified as Vulnerable (VU).
Conservation work
Island ecosystems conservation