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Ring tailed lemur: Lemur catta
Description
An average-sized lemur
o Head-body length: 39-46 cm (15-18 in)
o Tail length: 56-63 cm (22-25 in)
o Weight: About 2-2.4 kg (4.4-5.5 lbs)
Tail is longer than the body and is distinctive, with alternating black and white bands
Grayish or reddish brown fur, with off-white underbelly, a white face with dark eye
patches and snout
Often described as cat-like or raccoon-like in appearance due to the eye patches and
angular ears
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
Primarily dry forests and bush of southern and southwestern Madagascar
Can inhabit many habitat types including spiny bush, lowland gallery forest (forests
along rivers), dry deciduous forest, rock canyons and upland inland areas
Survives in a range of conditions, from coldest found in Madagascar (lows about 6°F) to
the hottest and driest (highs about 118 °F)
In other parts of their range, they survive harsh seasonal conditions such as drought and
food scarcity
Diet
Opportunistic omnivores: Primarily eats fruit, but diet varies with habitat and season
Will also eat leaves, flowers, insects, spiders, and other small lizards and birds
Tamarind tree is an important food source because it produces fruit and leaves at
different times of year, so provides a reliable year-round source of food and can
compose up to about 50% of their diet at certain times of year
In the more arid parts of their range, ring tailed lemurs obtain water from succulent
plants
Adaptations
Are good climbers and leapers
o Spend a good deal of time in trees, but are the most terrestrial (ground-dwelling)
of all lemur species
Will frequently sun themselves by sitting upright and resting their forearms on their
knees
o Exposes underside to sunlight and is thought to aid in thermoregulation
o Often observed on cold mornings or following cold nights
Social structure
Live in groups up to about 24 animals, average group size is about 16
Groups consist of related adult females, unrelated males, and offspring
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
February 2014
Ring tailed lemur: Lemur catta
o Females are dominant to males, have a dominance hierarchy, and remain with
the troop their entire life
Males leave the troop and will often travel in pairs or trios until they can integrate into a
new group
When integrating into a new group, young males will challenge the resident males for
breeding rights
Troops are territorial and will scent mark and fight to defend their territory, although
territories can sometimes overlap
As in many primates, social grooming is important. All lemurs have specialized front
teeth that form a dental comb used in grooming.
Lifespan
In the wild: 16-19 years
In captivity: Up to 27 years
Ecosystem relationships
Although there is much that we don’t know about ring tailed lemurs, likely predators of
ring-tailed lemurs include raptors, fossas, civets, snakes, and brown lemurs
Domestic cats introduced to Madagascar are known to predate ring tailed lemurs
Humans also hunt them for food
They are fruit eaters, so are likely seed dispersers and their feeding behavior probably
influences local plant communities
Reproduction
Seasonal breeders, with a highly synchronized breeding system
Females typically go into estrus within two weeks of each other, and all of the newborn
lemurs in a troop will be born within a few days of each other
Give birth to 1 or 2 young after a 4-4.5 month gestation
Females are reproductively mature by about 1 year, but typically don’t have offspring
until they are 3, and generally reproduce annually
Females are generally not aggressive toward the offspring of other females
o In fact, they will switch infants, form play groups, and even allow other infants to
nurse
o This is likely due to the fact that most females in a group are related to each
other
Activity
Diurnal
Other Facts
Are the most well-studied of lemur species
Males have scent glands near their wrists and will “stink fight” during the breeding
season for access to females
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
February 2014
Ring tailed lemur: Lemur catta
o The male will rub scent from these glands on his tail, drawing the tail under his
body and between his legs
o He will then quickly pull his tail back and up and over his head, shaking it and
wafting his scent toward the rival male
Conservation Status and Threats
IUCN listed as Near Threatened
All members of the family Lemuridae (bamboo lemurs and “true lemurs,” including ringtailed and ruffed lemurs) are listed by the USFWS as Endangered
Populations are decreasing (reduction of 20-25% over the past 24 years)
Habitat loss, slash and burn agriculture, and hunting are the most serious threats
Political unrest in Madagascar has created conservation challenges for all Malagasy
species. Bans on illegal hunting and logging in protected areas are increasingly difficult
to enforce and many international aid organizations have withdrawn support due to the
unconstitutional change of power that happened in 2009.
The illegal pet trade is a problem for many prosimian species, including ring tailed
lemurs
At the Zoo
MZIB holds two ring-tailed lemurs:
o Alexander: Male, born 2005
o Fern: Female, born 2007
The pair arrived at the Zoo in 2013 from Duke Lemur Center
They are housed outdoors and are on exhibit during the warmer months of the year
During the winter, they are housed indoors and are not viewable by the public
What We Can Do
Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy
o Buying something imported illegally supports the black market by sustaining
demand
 Ex. Rosewood is still being illegally imported from Madagascar despite
bans on logging because people are still buying it
o Look for wood and paper products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship
Council. The FSC is an organization that certifies and promotes the responsible
use of wood and paper products.
Do not support the illegal pet trade
o Despite their cute appearance, lemurs never make good pets. The illegal pet
trade contributes to the population decline of many prosimian species.
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce consumption, recycle and reuse whenever possible, reduce
litter and pollution
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
February 2014
Ring tailed lemur: Lemur catta
Consider donating or providing support to organizations working to protect lemurs (like
The Zoo). Many other organizations are also working both here in the US and in the field
to understand and protect lemurs. Here are a few suggestions:
o The Madagascar Fauna Group, Conservation International, Duke Lemur Center,
Myakka Lemur Reserve
References and Additional Resources
ARKive: http://www.arkive.org/ring-tailed-lemur/lemur-catta/
Duke Lemur Center: http://lemur.duke.edu/discover/meet-the-lemurs/ring-tailedlemur/
IUCN: Lemurs of Madagascar: A Strategy for their Conservation 2013-2016. Schwitzer et
al. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.primatesg.org/storage/pdf/Lemurs_of_Madagascar_Strategy_for_Their_Conservation_2013201
6_low_res.pdf
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11496/0
Mittermeier, R.A., et al. (2010). Lemurs of Madagascar 3rd Edition. Arlington, VA:
Conservation International.
Ring Tailed Lemur Species Survival Plan:
http://www.ringtailedlemurssp.org/default.html
The University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lemur_catta/
The University of Wisconsin’s Primate Info Net:
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ring-tailed_lemur
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
February 2014