The Ring-tailed Lemur
The Ring-tailed Lemur, is just one of 22 species of lemur originating from the island of Madagascar, off the coast of east Africa. Ring-tailed are the only species of lemur that typically walk on the ground, hunting and foraging, most other lemurs prefer forest.
They have a grey furry body, a white belly, large eyes, a long snout and a long ringed black and white tail. They are primates, closely related to monkeys, apes and people. Their body is 16”/40cm long with a tail of 24”/60cm. They weigh between 6-8 pounds/3-3.5kg. Lemurs are generally herbivores, eating mainly leaves fruit and berries, but occasionally they may eat birds eggs, small mammals and insects.
Ring-tailed lemurs live in groups of up to 30. They have distinct hierarchies that are enforced by frequent aggressive confrontations. Females live in the group all their lives and are dominant. Males will change group especially during mating season. Male lemurs use their tails as a means of communicating, they carry them high over their heads to get others to follow and sometimes cover them in a pungent scent, waving them about, showing off to the ladies and warning off other males.
The Black and White ruffed Lemur
The Black and White ruffed Lemur, just one of 22 species of lemur, originates from Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. These lemurs like to climb trees and are less likely to forage for food on the ground.
The Ruffed lemur is the largest of the lemur species, measuring up to 48”/120cm, including their tail. They weigh between 8-10 pounds/3.5-4kg. The fur is long and soft, the ears are hidden by a ruff of hair which gives them their name. Their faces and snouts are black with the pattern on their bodies being a random mix of black and white. Lemurs are herbivores, preferring sweet fruit, especially bananas, but they can also eat birds eggs, small mammals and insects.
The Black and White ruffed lemur lives in groups of between two to five, usually consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring. In their native habitat they are most active in the early morning and at dusk. These lemurs tend to give birth to twins or triplets and as a result of this they do not carry their young with them, but leave them in a nest made of twigs and leaves high above the ground.
