Ring-tailed lemur

Lemur catta

Irish Name: Léamar bandearrach
IUCN Status: Endangered

The ring-tailed lemur is a primate with a greyish body, a white body and a white face with black circles around its eyes. Its most distinguishable feature is its long black and white striped tail from where its name derives. The ring-tailed lemur, like all lemur species, hails from the island of Madagascar.

Ring-tailed lemur

Lemur catta

Irish Name: Léamar bandearrach
IUCN Status: Endangered

The ring-tailed lemur is a primate with a greyish body, a white body and a white face with black circles around its eyes. Its most distinguishable feature is its long black and white striped tail from where its name derives. The ring-tailed lemur, like all lemur species, hails from the island of Madagascar.

General Information

Where do they live? (Natural habitat)

Ring-tailed lemurs live in the dry forests and bush of southern Madagascar.

How long do they live?

Ring-tailed lemurs live for up to 20 years in the wild but up to 30 years in zoos.

What do they eat?

These opportunistic omnivores mostly eat leaves and fruit but will eat larvae, eggs, invertebrates, and small birds or reptiles if they can find them.

Group Name

Troop

Zoo Location

On Lemur Island, just across from the Play Forest playground and before the flamingos.

Closest related species

Ring-tailed lemurs are the only living members of the lemur genus. Their closest relatives are the bamboo lemurs or hapalemur, which include the gentle lemurs.

Animal Class

Mammalia

Animal Order

Primates

Fun facts

Stink Fight

Males perform a unique kind of scent marking behaviour where they rub their wrist scent glands on their tails, and then waft the tails at each other in a "stink fight".

Sun Worshippers

They will often sunbathe, sitting upright to allow the suns rays to reach their underbelly which is covered in a thinner, white fur. For this reason, they are sometimes called sun worshippers.

Madagascar Born and Bred

All lemur species are native to Madagascar and are not found anywhere else in the wild.

High Risk of Extinction

Almost every species of lemur are at risk of extinction, making them the world's most endangered group of primates.

Female Leaders

Lemur groups are formed around a female matriarchy, where females lead the group.

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Family Life

The ring-tailed lemur lives in groups of around 20 individuals, with females leading the troop. They can often be seen huddling in "lemur balls" or close knit huddling groups to keep warm and reaffirm social bonds. Young males leave their troop at 3-5 years old.

Baby name

Newborn, baby or infant.

Gestation (pregnancy) period

About 135 days

Number of young at birth

Usually 1 but occasionally twins are born

Weight at birth

Around 100g

Age at maturity

2.5-3 years

Adult male name

Male

Adult female name

Female

Size male adult

39-46cm in height and 2.2kg in weight

Size female adult

39-46cm in height and 2.2kg in weight

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Conservation

Endangered

The ring-tailed lemur is listed as 'Endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to habitat loss, climate change and being captured for the pet trade.

Almost every species of lemur are at risk of extinction, making them the world's most endangered group of primates.

Current population estimation

Estimated between 2,000-2,400 in the wild.

Threats

Habitat loss due to farming and charcoal production, capture for the pet trade, climate change and their fragmented population are making it hard for their numbers to increase.

What is Dublin Zoo doing?

Dublin Zoo's ring-tailed lemurs are part of the European breeding programme for this species, meaning that our animals can be suggested for breeding recommendations with other ring-tailed lemurs in other European zoos if they are genetically compatible.

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FAQs

  • What do ring-tailed lemurs eat?

    Ring-tailed lemurs are opportunistic omnivores that mostly eat leaves and fruit but will eat larvae, eggs, invertebrates, and small birds or reptiles if they can find them.

     

  • Where do ring-tailed lemurs live?

    Ring-tailed lemurs live in the dry forests and bush of southern Madagascar.

  • What are Dublin Zoo doing to try save the ring-tailed lemurs?

    Conservation efforts target four main threats to lemurs: habitat destruction, hunting for food, the pet trade and climate change/drought.

    Nature preserves in Madagascar aim to prevent habitat destruction and prevent droughts. They introduce watering troughs and fruit trees that can help lemurs survive harsh dry seasons.

    Successful breeding programmes in zoos can also lead to the reintroduction of lemurs into their natural habitat in the wild.

  • How are we trying to save the ring-tailed lemur?

    Conservation efforts target 3 main threats: habitat destruction, hunting for food and the pet trade, and climate change/droughts. Nature preserves in Madagascar help prevent some habitat destruction and protect from hunting, successful breeding programs in zoos can lead to reintroduction programes, and drought prevention (watering troughs and introduced fruit trees) can help them survive harsh dry seasons.

  • Do ring-tailed lemurs live in the rainforest?

    No, ring-tailed lemurs prefer the dry forest and spiny scrub in southern Madagascar instead of rainforests, although many other lemur species live in rainforests.

  • How many ring tailed lemurs are left in Madagascar?

    It is unknown exactly how many ring-tailed lemurs are left in Madagascar but could be as low as 2,000- 2,400 individuals.

  • How many ring-tailed lemurs are left in the world?

    The exact numbers of ring-tailed lemurs is unknown but could be as low as 2,000 individuals in the wild, with another 2,000 in zoos around the world.

    An unknown number also exist in the private pet trade.

  • How tall is a ring-tailed lemur?

    39-46cm, although their tail is not included in that length!

  • Is the ring-tailed lemur nocturnal?

    Ring-tailed lemurs are not nocturnal. They are active during the day. At night they huddle together in a ‘lemur’ ball to sleep.

  • How far can a ring-tailed lemur jump?

    Ring-tailed lemurs can jump about 7.5 metres in one leap.

  • What is a baby ring-tailed lemur called?

    An infant, newborn or baby.

  • Are ring-tailed lemurs social?

    Ring-tailed lemurs are highly social animals and live in groups of up to 20 individuals.

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