Download Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur Fast Facts

Black-and-White
Ruffed Lemur
Fast Facts
What do they look like?
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are one of two species of ruffed lemurs, separated
from each other by the Antainambalana River in eastern Madagascar. Nearly identical
to each other aside from coloration, black-and-white and red ruffed lemurs are
named for the tufts of hair lining their ears and faces. Their faces, hands, feet, bellies,
and tails are black, while they have white “ruffs” and varying blankets of white on
their backs. They have large, forward-facing eyes and fox-like muzzles. Ruffed lemurs
are the largest of the lemur species, typically weighing 7-10 pounds. Their body length
is 20-22 inches with tails adding an additional 24 inches long. Their long tails are used
for balance.
How do they behave?
Common Name: Black-and-White
Ruffed Lemur, Ruffed Lemur
Scientific Name: Varecia variegata
Family: Lemuridae
Order: Primates
Class: Mammalia
Range: Isolated populations in
Eastern Madagascar
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs live in small family groups typically comprised of two
to five members, but may have up to sixteen. They are a crepuscular, arboreal species
and forage mostly during dawn and dusk. Females are dominant in the lemur
hierarchy, a system unique to this suborder of prosimians. Females will defend their
territory, choose their own mate, and have first access to foraging opportunities.
Ruffed lemurs communicate through loud vocalizations which can be heard up to a
mile away. The most common calls are alarm calls and locator calls.
What’s on the menu?
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are herbivores, and more specifically frugivores,
feeding primarily on fruit, although they also consume leaves, flowers, and nectar.
Ruffed lemurs play an important ecological role in Madagascar. They cannot digest
the seeds of the fruit they consume; the seeds are dispersed in their droppings,
helping to replant vegetation throughout the region. At the Zoo, they eat specialized
leaf-eater diet, fruits, and vegetables.
How are they born?
Habitat: Rainforests
Lifespan: 15-20 years in the wild;
over 30 years in captivity
Conservation Status: Critically
Endangered
Bonded pairs are believed to be monogamous among this species. Mating takes
place from May to July, during the cooler, dry months in Madagascar. Toward the
end of the gestation period, which lasts approximately 102 days, the female will build
a nest for her young. Twins and triplets are most common; however, litters of six
have been noted in captivity. Newborns are born fully furred with open eyes, though
they do not have the strength yet to hold on to their mothers for travel. They will live
in the nest for up to two weeks, at which time the mother will begin to carry them to
nearby trees while she forages.
What can you do to help?
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs, like all lemurs, are found only on the island of
Madagascar where wild populations are steadily and critically declining. Nearly half of
the approximately one hundred species of lemurs are threatened or endangered due
to deforestation and human predation for food. Education and conservation are
crucial not only for this species’ survival, but for all the other wildlife found in
Madagascar. To prevent habitat destruction, you can help by buying wood that is
sustainably harvested, coffee that is shade grown, and produce that is grown locally.
These products do not require the destruction of rainforest land to grow crops.