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Red ruffed lemur
Varencia variegata rubra
Identifying Features
- Deep red fur is thick and soft. Typically
black on underside.
- Forehead, crown and tail are black with a white patch at the back of
the neck.
- Measures about 22 inches tall.
- Weighs 7 to 12 pounds
Range and Habitat
- Found only in the northern part of Madagascar's east coast. The red
ruffed lemur is the most arboreal of the true lemurs.
Diet
- Primarily a fruit eater.
Diet might also include leaves, flowers and soil.
Reproduction
- Breeding occurs at the end of the dry season. Young are born during
the wet season when food is plentiful.
- On average, 3 young are born per litter and kept in a nest of leaves
and twigs for the first 2 weeks of life. Later carried in mother's mouth.
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Did you know?
»» The red ruffed lemur is the largest of all lemurs and a truly rare animal.
»» The red ruffed lemur lives in small family groups numbering up to 10 individuals.
»» A very clean animal, the lemur spends a large amount of time grooming. The lower front teeth are
especially adapted for this behavior - they grow in forward and slightly spaced apart creating a tooth-like comb.
This feature is the same with other lemurs.
»» Twin births are common among red ruffed lemurs.
»» An infant ruffed lemur has blue eyes, which change color after 12 days of age.
Conservation
»» The exact status of the species is not known;
however it is considered endangered with declining wild populations. |
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