Lemur Catta (Ring-Tailed Lemur)

What they look like:

Lemurs have large bushy black and white tails. A white face with black ringed features and white fluffy, pointed ears, yellow eyes with black pupils. A grey coat of fur with a white underbelly. They also have white five fingered hands and white five toed feet.

What their diets consist of:

Plants, leaves, flowers, fruit, sap and bark.

Where they live:

Lemur catta are endemic to Southern and Southwestern Madagascar. They like dry open areas such as forests. 

Map of Lemur population in Madagascar

Conservation: 

The current conservation status of the Lemur Catta is endangered. Lemur Catta are endangered because of habitat loss from man made fires, excessive grazing from surrounding animals and the cutting down of trees for charcoal production. The population density of ring tailed lemurs is very low and is restricted to isolated fragments. This reduction in population density is due to the reasons previously listed and hunting. Ring tailed lemurs are hunted by humans for food and also in order to be kept as a pet. 

Lemur Catta's behaviour:

L.catta often live in multi male/multi female groups ranging from 11-17 lemurs. Ring tailed lemurs take a matriarchal approach in life. For example a group of lemurs usually consists of females and their relatives alongside their offspring. The females of the group are seen as the providers of food and territory. Additionally, females remain in their natal groups whilst the males emigrate into new groups. Male lemurs customarily leave the troop at three to five years of age. The males that do not leave the group are seen as low ranking and are often marginalised from group activities. Even though male L.catta are not the dominant sex they still have 1-3 central high ranking males who interact more with the females than any other male. They also help lead the group processions. In the morning lemur catta sit in the sun in order to warm themselves up. This normally happens in groups. They sit with their legs extended outward and support themselves on tree branches. 

L.Catta 'sunbathing' in the morning

After eating in the morning lemur catta partake in a daily nap, they sometimes do this whilst remaining in contact with each other.

L.Catta partaking in their daily nap or 'siesta'

L.Catta run along the ground and the tree tops. Their tail is lifted whilst they're running in order to maintain their balance. L.Catta spend a of time on the ground which is unusual amongst the lemur species.

Ring tailed lemurs running with their tails standing up

L.Catta have many predators. These predators include the Madagascar Harrier-hawk and the Madagascar ground boa.When L.Catta encounter their predators they sound a high-pitched shriek alarm call, and move downward to lower bushes to conceal themselves.  If a lemur recognizes a ground animal as a potential predator, they begin a series of clicks and synchronised barks and stare the animal down. However, since the introduction of modern humans in Madagascar dogs and cats are also seen to be predators of the L.Catta.

Madagascar Harrier Hawk

Madagascar Ground Boa

Ring-tailed lemurs have powerful scent glands and use their unique odour as a communication tool and even as a kind of weapon. Lemurs mark their territory by scent, serving notice of their presence to all who can smell.

Reproduction: 
During mating season, male lemurs battle for dominance by trying to out stink each other. They cover their long tails with smelly secretions and wave them in the air to determine which animal is more powerful. 

Niche and adaptations: 
L.Catta spend a lot of time on the ground, they rummage for fruit which makes up a large part of their diet however they also eat plants, leaves, sap and bark. Therefore they do not have to travel far for food. They have fingernails, toe nails and opposable thumbs, adaptations for a life in the trees shared by many primates.  They have a specialised tooth used for scraping during grooming. Both male and female L.Catta measure about 42.5 cm in length, and weigh roughly 2.2 kg in the wild.

Lemur Catta at London zoo:

L.Catta at the London Zoo in the lemur habitat

The people at London zoo have made precise decisions in order to ensure that the lemurs are comfortable in that environment. They know that the L.Catta love to sunbathe so they have carefully mapped out the sun lights route to the lemur exhibition to ensure they maximise their lounging time. 

The Ring tailed lemurs are involved in the European Breeding Programme where in 2013 six female L.Catta were welcomed at Whipsnade zoo and were later introduced into the programme alongside a group of males who were previously in the programme.