THE RED RUFFED LEMUR

By Daniel

Scientific Classification

Common Name: Red Ruffed Lemur Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Lemuridae Genus Species: Varecia variegata ruba

Description

Soft, thick, orange-red fur

Description

Fox-like black head with bright yellow eyes

Description

A ruff of reddish fur around the neck

Description

Nape of neck may have a patch of white fur

Description

Black belly, hands, feet, and long bushy tail

Description

One of the largest

primates in Madagascar Between 1.5 and 2 feet

in length Weighs 7-10 pounds Tail usually longer than

the body

Usually 2-3 offspring at a time Can have up to 6 offspring Gestation is 90-102 days Young are left in a nest while parents find food If the Lemurs need to move nests, they carry the

babies in their mouth Sometimes the babies are each given a nest The babies are born with fur and their eyes open Sexual maturity is 20 months

Reproduction

Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

Like all lemurs, found exclusively on the island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa

Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

Restricted to the Masoala Peninsula.

Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

Red Ruffed Lemurs’ Range

Range separated from the range of the Black and White Rugged Lemur by the Antainambalana River, the Red Ruffed Lemur on the North and the Black and White Lemur on the South.

Habitat

Tropical Rainforest in Madagascar

Habitat

Arboreal forest dwellers

Habitat

Prefers tall, thick, fruit-bearing trees

Diet The Red Ruffed Lemur is:

a frugivore (eating fruits) a folivore (eating foliage)a nectivore (eating nectar)

Fruit makes up 75% of their diet They also eat leaves, shoots and seeds Their diet varies depending on the season One of their favorite fruits is figs and they travel

the jungle to find them They get water from eating fruit or climbing

down to the ground to drink from streams

Predators

Boa Constrictors

Predators

Eagles

Predators

Hawks

Predators

Fossa

Physical Adaptations

Thick Fur

Benefit: Protection from the elements

Physical Adaptations

Long, strong fingers and toes

Benefit: Good for climbing and hanging onto branches

Physical Adaptations

Long, thick tail

Benefit: Helps balance

when leaping and climbing

Physical Adaptations

Male and Female Scent Glands

Benefit: Communication and territory marking

Physical Adaptations

Keen Eyesight

Benefit: Find food and avoid predators

Physical Adaptations Long arms and legs

Benefit: Able to reach far

when leaping and climbing

Physical Adaptations

Long, pointed snout

Benefit: Sipping nectar from flowers

Physical Adaptations

Protruding overbite and

spaced lower six teeth

Benefit: Creates a comb

for grooming

Physical Adaptations

The females have three

sets of mammary glands

Benefit: Able to nurse

larger litters

Physical Adaptations

The second claw on its hind legs are longer and thinner.

Benefit: Used for grooming

Behavioral Adaptations Sometimes hang by their

feet on branches

Benefit: Able to grab

far away food

Behavioral Adaptations

Vocalizes using 12 distinct calls

Benefit: Communication with other lemurs

Behavioral Adaptations Live in family groups of two adults with offspring

Benefit: Protection, finding food and raising young

Crepuscular/Diurnal

Benefit: Able to find fruit and flowers in the daytime. Finds food while predators may be sleeping

Behavioral Adaptations

Usually stays in the treetops

Benefit: Finds food in the canopy and avoids predators

Behavioral Adaptations

Endangered Species Only 1,000 to 10,000 remain in the wild One of the most endangered species of lemur:

Small geographic rangeHabitat destructionHunting and live capture for pets

While doing my research I came across a site that was titled, “Red Ruffed Lemurs for Sale!”

The Masaola National Park, established in 1997 offers hope for the continued survival of Red Ruffed Lemurs in Madagascar

Interesting Facts

Madagascar separated from Africa over 160 million years ago

Lemurs developed only on Madagascar Red Ruffed Lemurs can travel through the

treetops1200m a day in search of ripe fruit When Red Ruffed Lemurs live near Black

and White Lemurs in zoos, they can understand each other’s calls even though these species don’t normally meet in the wild.

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

Zoo ImprovementsIf I had the power to change the Red Ruffed Lemurs zoo habitat, this is what I would do. I liked that there was some things to climb on but I think that to maintain the adaptation of having long arms and legs to climb higher we must give them more things to climb on. I also think there should be more room for the Red Ruffed Lemurs because they are territorial and are adapted to traveling long distances to find food. I think there should be outside space to maintain the adaptation of having thick fur to withstand the elements. I believe that to keep the adaptation of a long snout to reach into flowers to get nectar, we must give them real flowers to stick their muzzle in and get nectar. I think that their habitat should be higher off the ground because they naturally like to stay higher in the trees than on the ground. I also would have made the habitat have more live vegetation and less concrete because the Red Ruffed Lemur naturally lives in the rainforest. I would also like to include running water to be more like the streams in their natural habitat. I liked a little about this habitat but I wanted to change a lot.

Sources

The Wild Ones Animal Index San Francisco Zoo Bristol Zoo Woodland Park Zoo Animal Bytes Google Images Conservation of lemurs in human-dominated

landscapes by Barbara Martinez, PhD student