Black and White Ruffed Lemur
(Varecia variegata variegata)
Order: Primata
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Varecia
Species: Varecia variegata
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HABITAT AND RANGE:
The Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
inhabits lowland to mid-altitude eastern
rain forests of Madagascar. They are
found in a number of protected areas, as
well as special reserves. |
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur has a
head and body length of about 55 cm and
tail length of about 60 cm, for a total
length of 110-120 cm. Significant
variation in coat color exists, but
almost always the hair is black on the
chest, tail, extremities, inner aspect
of limbs, forehead and the circumorbital
area, and on top of the head. The ears
are lavishly tufted (“ruffed”) with
long, thick white hair. |
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ADAPTATIONS:
Primarily arboreal, all group members
use a common home range, and aggression
is seen between groups. Females form the
core of the groups, and defend the
groups territory. The weakest social
bonds appear to be between males.
Grouping patterns change seasonally;
females aggregate in larger numbers
during the wet summer and are more
dispersed during the dry winters. |
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DIET: The
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur is the most
frugivorous (fruit dependent) of the
living lemurs, but they also feed on
nectar, seeds and leaves depending on
the season. In general, the ruffed
lemurs are most active in early morning
and in the late afternoon/evening. |
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REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
The mating season begins in may,
with most of the breeding occurring
during June and July. They usually give
birth to twins in September or October.
Studies have shown that captive lemurs
have larger litter sizes, as well as
lengthier periods of gestation. Unlike
most other lemurs, ruffed lemurs will
leave their infants unattended in their
nests for short periods of time. Later
they are carried in the mothers mouth,
and are fully mobile at about seven
weeks. |
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STATUS IN WILD:
The black-and-white ruffed lemur is
severely threatened by continued
destruction of Madagascar’s lowland
eastern rain forests and also because it
is heavily hunted and trapped for food
throughout its range. This subspecies is
in the Endangered category. If further
research indicates that one or more of
the named “subspecies” of the
black-and-white ruffed lemur are valid,
some of these would possibly enter the
Critically Endangered category. |
