Distribution: South and south-west Madagascar
Habitat: Dry brush and scrub, closed canopy forest.
Description: The Ring-tailed Lemur has a white face with a dark nose and eye patches. Its underbelly is whitish-grey and its upper fur is brown-grey to rosy-brown. The lemur’s tail is very distinctive with black and white rings all along its length, hence the name ‘ring-tailed’. Its tail is used for visual and scent communication.
Diet: Lemurs are herbivores and eat flowers, fruit, leaves, bark and sap.
In the wild: Ring-tailed Lemurs live in groups of 5–25 individuals with a core group of adult females. These females form a well-ordered hierarchy that dominates over males. Females remain in the group while males, once grown, move on to join other groups.
Threats: Habitat loss is a major threat to lemurs on the island of Madagascar. Lemurs are also caught and sold in the illegal pet trade.
At Perth Zoo: Perth Zoo’s Ring-tailed Lemurs can be found in the Lesser Primate area.
Did you know? Ring-tailed Lemurs like to sunbathe. They sit in an upright position with their hands on their knees and face the sun.