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• A Ring-tailed lemur is a large Strepsirhine primate. It is most easily identified by its long black and white ringed tail. It is endemic to Madagascar and is the most terrestrial of all lemurs, comfortable on land as well as in trees.Primate Info Net: Ring-tailed Lemur

• Fast Facts

  1. Habitat: Gallery forests and spiny scrub in southern Madagascar
  2. Diet: Omnivorous
  3. Status: Endangered National Geographic:Ring-tailed Lemur
  4. Height: Approximately 1.39 ft
  5. Weight: Averages 4.88 lbsPrimate Info Net: Ring-tailed Lemur
  6. Lifespan: 16-19 years in the wild, 27 in captivityPrimate Info Net: Ring-tailed Lemur
  7. Predators: Raptors, larger carnivores, snakesPrimate Info Net: Ring-tailed Lemur

• Discoveries

  Duke Lemur Center discovered that the ring-tailed lemur can organize sequences in memory and retrieve ordered sequences without language.Lemur Center Duke University: Ring-tailed Lemur

• Living Style

  Lemurs live in groups of up to 25 individuals. These groups are organized in a matriarchal fashion - a trait common among lemurs but uncommon among other primates. To keep warm, ring-tailed lemurs engage in sunbathing, where they stand up on their back legs and rest their forearms on their haunches.Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Great Apes & Other Primates

• Unique Behaviors

  The males are known for a unique scent marking behavior and will engage one another in "stink fights" in which they rub their tails with the scent glands found in their wrists, and then waft the scent at opponents.Lemurs 101: Lemur Behaviors

• Habits

  The ring-tailed lemur is one of the most vocal primates. They utilize various sounds and calls, including group cohesion and alarm calls. Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Great Apes & Other Primates

• Other Lemurs

  • Verreaux's sifaka
  • Red-tailed sportive lemur
  • White-footed sportive lemur
  • Brown lemur
  • Greater dwarf lemur
  • Fat-tailed dwarf lemur
  • Aye-aye
  • Ruffed lemur
  • Lesser bamboo lemur

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Madagascar | Lemur | Monkey | Tamarin | Madagascar 2 Reviews | Birmingham AL Vacation

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