The ring tailed lemur is a mammal of the order Primates and the suborder Sterpsirhini (Prosimians).
Physical Characteristics
The ring tailed lemur is 15 1/2 to 18 inches long with a 22 to 24 inch long tail. It weighs 5 1/2 to 7 3/4 pounds. Its fur is brown-gray to rosy brown with a light whitish gray underside. Its face is white and has a dark, triangular eye patch on each eye and a dark nose. Its tail which is striped with white and black rings is the source of its common name. The tail is used for visual and scent signaling. Both in movement and in body proportions the ring tailed lemur is reminiscent of a cat.
Behavioral Characteristics
The ring tailed lemur lives in groups. Its groups range from 5 to 25 individuals and it is a very sociable animal. The females are dominant and establish a hierarchy among themselves and over the males of the group. Adult females are most often related. The female offspring of the adult females are allowed to stay with their mother and sisters, at least while in the juvenile stage. Males however, leave and find their own group. This species spends more time on the ground then any other species of lemur. It is still very skilled at climbing.
The ring tailed lemur sunbathes. It sits in the sunshine on the ground or in trees upright with its hands on its knees. Some people are reminded of monks worshiping by their pose. Some of the group stands watch while the others sunbathe in order to call out and alert the sunbathers if danger approaches.
The ring tailed lemur breeds only once per year. Breeding season occurs in mid April and lasts throughout June. The gestation or pregnancy of the female ring tailed lemur lasts 134 to 138 days. Litters are most often only a single offspring but twins also occur. At first the young will cling to the mother’s belly then after a few weeks it will ride on the mother’s back. The young are weaned at 5 months old and become sexually mature at about 2 1/2 years old. The maximum lifespan recorded for the ring tailed lemur is 33 years in captivity.
Diet
The ring tailed lemur gathers flowers, fruits, bark, leaves and sap with their hands to eat.
Habitat
The ring tailed lemur is located in Madagascar. It prefers gallery forests and Euphorbia bush habitat but will inhabit most other types of forest as well.
Conservation
The ring tailed lemur is classified as near threatened on the IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) red list of threatened species. Assuming a generation of 8 years for this species, it is estimated that the population has declined by 20-25% in the past 3 generations. Exploitation (hunting and trapping) as well as the decline of area and quality of habitat are the causes of the decline. The population is estimated to continue to decline. The ring tailed lemur almost qualifies to be classified as vulnerable which is the lowest of the three threatened classifications.
References:
Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World’s Wildlife by, David Burnie and Don E. Wilson
Anderson, R. 1999. “Lemur catta” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed July 22, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lemur_catta.html.
