Ring-tailed lemur

Lemur catta

Mammalia · Primates · Lemuridae

Fig. 1. Ring-tailed lemur

Fig. 2. Range

Length or height	Body length about 40 cm, tail about 60 cm
Weight	About 2-3.5 kg
Food	Fruit, leaves, flowers
Lifespan	About 20 years (longer in zoos)
Society	Female-dominant troops
Habitat	dry forest
Range	Africa
Wild or tame	Wild

Found only on Madagascar. Lemurs are primates but not monkeys.

Observe: Watch lemurs sunbathe with arms out in the morning, and the tail held high as a flag.

Modern data

Status today

ENEndangered status to verify

Conservation	Endangered by forest loss and the pet trade.
Keeper's note	Daily checks of appetite, movement and behavior; enrichment that changes from day to day.
Kingdom · phylum	Animalia · Chordata
Genus	Lemur

Check the record: IUCN Red List · GBIF · ITIS

See it elsewhere in the museum

Zoo: Primates zone

For classes

Lessons: The Primate Learning Lab: Open the field notebookPreviewThe Primate Learning Lab: Watch one primatePreviewThe Primate Learning Lab: The stick in the termite moundPreview

Drawer: Zoo: Primates

Quiz: Primates quiz · 5 questions