Ring-tailed lemurs are relatively large weighing about 5 pounds with a full length of almost 4 feet; this includes their incredibly long tails that measure about two feet themselves.

Their characteristic tail can’t be used to grab onto things but is instead more for balance and communication. Ring-tailed lemur tails alternate white and black rings, always ending with a black tip. In fact, the total number of rings often matches the number of vertebrae in their tails!

Ring-tailed lemurs have leather-like palms and opposable thumbs making it easy for them to climb and hold onto things.

Regardless of gender, ring-tailed lemurs have some variation of a red-to-grey back with white underparts. They have slender frames along with a narrow face and muzzle, and yellowish eyes.

Female ring-tailed lemurs have strong scent glands in their lower arms, and males have them both in their lower and upper arms. A male will wipe his tail along the scent glands to mark territory or compete with other males during breeding season.

The ring-tailed lemur is a primate belonging to the Lemuridae family. Like all lemurs, they originate from the island of Madagascar; more specifically, the highland southern and southwestern area. Ring-tailed lemurs are found in many different forests throughout Madagascar but prefer the gallery forests along the riverbanks.

Ring-tailed lemurs have an omnivorous diet with 50% of their regimen coming from the fruits and leaves of the tamarind tree. Like other lemurs, they consume a large variety of plants and herbs with some variations as ring-tailed lemurs spend more time on the ground than other lemur species. This gives them more food options like small insects, bark, spider webs, and more.

Mating season for ring-tailed lemurs is April through May with both males and females having multiple partners. Females will remain pregnant for 5 months before they give birth to usually one infant that weighs only 2.5 ounces! For the first two weeks, mothers will carry their baby around their stomach and then the rest of the time on their back. The whole troop takes care of the infants and multiple mothers may breastfeed the same infant. They become independent after 6 months. Female ring-tailed lemurs will tend to stay within the group they were born into, while males will venture to other troops.

This lemur species is considered the most terrestrial, spending a little over 30% of its time on the ground!

A group of lemurs is known as a troop, which is made up of 5 – 30 members. Even though each troop will contain multi-male groups, the core is still led by females. Female ring-tailed lemurs dominate males in all circumstances including eating, while male importance is based more on age.

The lemur troops can be seen every morning sunning themselves almost in the standard “lotus pose” but with their legs extended out. Sunbathing not only helps warm the lemurs from the cold night but is also a good social activity.

Ring-tailed lemur vocalizations are impressive considering they don’t have the largest brain compared to other simiiform primates. They are intelligent enough to communicate sequences, use alarm calls, and even select useful tools depending on the task.