Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata)

·       All lemurs are considered endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

·       The name “lemur” comes from the Latin word lemures, which means “ghosts.”

·       Ruffed lemurs are the only primates that have litters.

Description

There are two subspecies of ruffed lemurs—black-and-white ruffed lemurs are covered in black and white fur, while red ruffed lemurs are mostly red, with a black forehead, crown and tail, and a white patch at the back of the head. Their ears are tufted and their eyes are a golden colour. Their name comes from the ruff of fur framing their face. 

Habitat

Ruffed lemurs live in the eastern rainforests in eastern Madagascar.

Feeding Habits

Ruffed lemurs eat mostly fruit, as well as nectar, leaves, flowers and sometimes soil.  

Reproduction               

Ruffed lemurs are believed to be monogamous. Gestation lasts approximately three months and the young are born from September through November. Although females can give birth to up to six, the litter size is usually two or three. They are born with their eyes open and fully furred, but are too weak to cling to their mother, so they are placed in a nest of branches and leaves, prepared by the mother prior to their birth. Sometimes females further line their nests with fur plucked from their own bodies. When the babies are three weeks old, they begin to follow their mothers around.

Behaviour

Ruffed lemurs are social animals that live in groups of two to 16 individuals, with the average size being approximately five. They reinforce their relationships by grooming each other. Ruffed lemurs are known for their series of loud alarm calls that warn other members of their group of approaching predators. 

Conservation

Forest destruction and hunting are the major conservation concerns for ruffed lemurs. The red-ruffed lemur is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. 

Sources

All the World’s Animals: Primates. Torstar Books, 1985

Life Nature Library: The Primates, Time-Life Books, 1980 

A Complete Guide to Monkeys, Apes and other Primates, Michael Kavanagh, Oregon Press Limited, 1983

http://www.duke.edu/web/primate/bwruff.html

http://www.animalinfo.org/species/primate/varevari.htm

http://members.tripod.com/uakari/varecia_variegata.html

http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/bwlemur.html

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/factsheets/varecia_variegata.html

http://www.marwell.org.uk/anim-26.htm

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/index.html?http://www.unep-wcmc.org/species/data/species_sheets/rufflemu.htm~main

http://www.scz.org/animals/l/bwlemur.html

http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/rrlemur.html

http://www.xmission.com/~hoglezoo/mammals/bwlemur.htm

http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/animals/ssp_bwlemur.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/fossa/Fossa.shtml