Travel Choice

Meet Our Ring-Tailed Lemurs

Quick Facts

Conservation
status : Endangered
Median
lifespan : 16 years
Bands on a ring-tailed
lemur’s tail : 13
The year the word
“lemur” was first used : 1758

Our Lemurs

At the Alabama Safari Park, we have ring-tailed lemurs and black-and-white ruffed lemurs. Both are native only to Madagascar. In fact, all lemurs are from the African island nation.

In the Wild

There are about 100 species of lemurs, all from Madagascar. Ring-tailed lemurs make their home in southeastern Madagascar, and black-and-white ruffed lemurs are from the eastern part of the island.

Ring-tailed lemurs stay on the ground more than their counterparts, who are more tree-dwelling. They’re among the most vocal primates, using their voices to alert their social group, which can be up to 25 members large. Ring-tailed lemurs communicate visually, too. One way is by raising their tails straight up to help group members stick together.

In their native habitat, black-and-white ruffed lemurs generally live in small family units made up of two to five members. They talk to each other by barking, howling and making various vocalizations, depending on what they’re communicating.

Did You Know?


Ruffed lemurs distribute pollen on their noses and are deemed the largest pollinators in the world.

Ring-tails like sunbathing on their backs to warm their bellies.

Most female lemurs demonstrate dominance over their male counterparts.

Ring-tailed lemurs have a strong sense of smell.

Conservation

Ring-tailed lemurs are labeled as endangered, and black-and-white ruffed lemurs are critically endangered. Their status is primarily due to deforestation, wiping out their habitat and food sources.

We bestow annual grants to national and international organizations devoted to wildlife conservation.

Read how we help

Learn What Lemurs Eat

Ring-tailed lemurs will eat insects and even small vertebrates, along with their more traditional diet of leaves and flowers. Black-and-white ruffed lemurs hang from tree branches to gather fruit. They also feed on leaves, seeds and nectar. Both species will eat herbs, an unusual food choice for most lemurs.

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