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Home | Animals | Mammals | Primates | Lemur | Red Ruffed Lemur
Red Ruffed Lemur
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Family: | Lemuridae |
| Genus: | Varecia |
| Species: | V. rubra |
Range
The island of Madagascar.
Habitat
Red ruffed lemurs are restricted to the forests of the Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar. They are separated from the black-and-white ruffed lemur population by the Antainambalana River. The ruffed (both red and black-and-white) lemurs are tree dwellers and are the most arboreal of the true lemurs.
Physical Appearance
Physical appearance may slightly vary depending on geographic area. Red ruffed lemurs are among the larger of the true lemurs, weighing about 8 pounds. They have a long bushy tail, a neck ruff or mane, a fox-like muzzle and thick fur.
Diet
Ruffed lemurs are mainly fruit eaters, though they also eat leaves and shoots.
social
Ruffed lemurs usually live in small family groups of up to ten individuals that include the adult male and female, and their offspring.
Habits
Lemurs are very clean animals and spend a lot of time grooming themselves and each other. The lower insisors (front teeth) and the claw on the second toe of the hind foot are specially adapted for this behavior. The lower insisors grow forward in line with each other and are slightly spaced. This creates a "tooth comb" which can be used to groom their long, soft fur. The claw is also used for grooming.
Status
The exact status of the red ruffed lemur in the wild is not fully known, but recent studies show that they are endangered with a declining wild population. At present, there are over 200 ruffed lemurs in 42 different zoos worldwide. Several of these zoos work with each other in breeding and caring for the captive population. To prevent inbreeding, wild caught animals have been introduced to the captive breeding program