Red-ruffed Lemur

Distribution:Madagascar

Habitat:Rainforest

Height:Approx. 50cm

Weight:3.5kg

Diet:Herbivorous

Fruit, leaves, nectar.

Common Name: Red-ruffed LemurScientific Name: Varecia variegata rubra

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Red-ruffed Lemurs have thick fur. They have black faces,hands, feet and tail. They have a white ‘collar’ around the backof their necks. The rest of their fur is a brown-red colour.

They have a dog like face with large eyes. Their ears are hiddenin the dense fur. They have very long fingers and feet forgripping the trees.

They are found only on the east coast of the island ofMadagascar. The Red-ruffed Lemur inhabits the areas aroundthe Antainambalana River and the Masola Peninsula. They livein the tropical forest that covers most of Madagascar spendingalmost all their lives up in the trees.

These lemurs are vegetarian with the majority of their dietsbeing made up of fruit and leaves.

Groups usually consist of a male anda female and their offspring butgroups of up to six have beenknown. Pairs hold a territory.Their let other lemurs knowwhose patch it is by scentmarking. The male marks byrubbing his chest and neckonto trees.

Most births occur between the months ofSeptember and October after a 100-daygestation period (pregnancy). The young arecarried around by the mother for the first fewweeks but it doesn’t take them long to catch on.Young lemurs can climb in the treetops by thetime they are 5 weeks old. Sexual maturity isreached at about 3.5 years old. Ruffed lemurscan live for up to 30 years.