“Lemurs help maintain forest diversity, structure, and dynamics through the movement of seeds! Yes, some lemur species play a significant role in their ecosystem by being seed dispersers.” ∼ Lemur Conservation Network
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Ring Tailed Lemur
Scientific name: Lemur catta
Conservation Status: Endangered
Move it, move it with our Ring-Tailed Lemurs
Ring-tailed lemurs would be our most interactive behind-the-scenes experience, and if you are lucky enough to have one will find out first-hand just how much fun they are. Behind-the-scenes encounters allow guests to kick-back in the lemur’s own jungle bungalow within their exhibit and hand-feed our Madagascan friends!
ABOUT
Found only in the southern part of Madagascar in the dry forest and bush, the ring-tailed lemur is a medium-sized, vocal primate with brownish-gray fur and a distinctive tail with alternating black and white rings.
Male and female ring-tailed lemurs are similar physically. They are roughly the same size, measuring about 42.5 cm from head to rump and weighing roughly 2.25 kg.
Highly social creatures, ring-tailed lemurs live in groups often averaging 17 members. Their society is female-dominant, and a group will often contain multiple breeding females. Females reproduce starting at 3 years of age, generally giving birth to one baby a year.
Although they are very capable climbers, ring-tailed lemurs spend a third of their time on the ground foraging for food.
They forage to find leaves, flowers, bark, sap, and small invertebrates to eat. When the lemurs travel over ground, they keep their tails in the air to ensure everyone in the group is in sight and stays together.
It is whilst on the ground where their tail plays a very important role, as they raise it high as a beacon for other lemurs to identify their location.
Aside from using visual cues, ring-tailed lemurs also communicate via scent and vocalisations. They mark their territory by scent. A male lemur will also engage in stink fights during mating seasons, wiping his tail with the scent glands on his wrists and waving it at another male while staring menacingly. Eventually one male will back down and run away.
Vocally, ring-tailed lemurs have several different alarms calls that alert members to danger. They have several predators, including fossas, birds of prey, Madagascar ground boas and domestic cats and dogs.
DIET
The ring-tailed lemur eats from as many as three dozen different plant species, and its diet includes flowers, herbs, bark and sap. It has been observed eating decayed wood, earth, spider webs, insect cocoons, arthropods (spiders, caterpillars, cicadas and grasshoppers) and small vertebrates (birds and chameleons).
Ring Tailed Lemur
Fun Facts
- The ring-tailed lemurs tail is longer than its body!
- Male ring-tailed lemurs rub scents, from glands in their chest and wrists, on their tail and wave it at rivals.
- The ring-tailed lemur is used as a symbol for Madagascar and for endangered animals on the island, because it’s so well-known.
- Ring-tailed lemurs are easily recognizable by their long, black and white striped tail that can be longer than their body.
- They are highly social animals and live in groups called troops, which can include up to 30 individuals.
- Ring-tailed lemurs are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and rest at night.
- They are omnivores and have a varied diet that includes fruits, leaves, flowers, insects, and small vertebrates.
- Ring-tailed lemurs have a unique way of sunbathing. They will sit with their arms and legs spread out, facing the sun, to soak up the warmth.
Distribution
Ring tailed lemurs come from Madagascar, an island off the East Coast of Africa. It is believed that they originally arrived at the island via hitching a ride on driftwood and clumps of grass which worked as a type of raft.
Habitat
They live in dry forest and spend most of their time on the forest floor, although they do climb but tend to spend time in the mid canopy.
Fun Times With Our Lemurs
If you are looking for more unforgettable experiences, we have a range of other close encounters that you won’t want to miss. With so many amazing close encounters to choose from, there is something for everyone at Symbio Wildlife Park.
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