The red ruffed lemur is a primate found exclusively in Madagascar. It has red fur and a ruff of fur around its neck. It lives in family groups and eats mostly fruit. The red ruffed lemur is threatened by habitat loss and hunting. In zoos, its enclosures are often bare concrete rooms lacking vegetation, space, and enrichment, unlike its natural rainforest habitat. Improvements could include more space, live plants, climbing structures, and outdoor access to better support the species' adaptations.

1. The red Ruffed lemurBy Daniel

2. Scientific ClassificationCommon Name: Red Ruffed LemurKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: MammaliaOrder: PrimatesFamily: LemuridaeGenus Species: Vareciavariegataruba

3. DescriptionSoft, thick, orange-red fur

4. DescriptionFox-like black head with bright yellow eyes

5. DescriptionA ruff of reddish fur around the neck

6. DescriptionNape of neck may have a patch of white fur

7. DescriptionBlack belly, hands, feet, and long bushy tail

8. DescriptionOne of the largest primates in MadagascarBetween 1.5 and 2 feet in lengthWeighs 7-10 poundsTail usually longer than the body

9. Usually 2-3 offspring at a timeCan have up to 6 offspringGestation is 90-102 daysYoung are left in a nest while parents find foodIf the Lemurs need to move nests, they carry the babies in their mouthSometimes the babies are each given a nestThe babies are born with fur and their eyes openSexual maturity is 20 monthsReproduction

10. Where to Find Red Ruffed LemursLike all lemurs, found exclusively on the island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa

11. Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

12. Where to Find Red Ruffed LemursRestricted to the Masoala Peninsula.

13. Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

14. Red Ruffed Lemurs’ RangeRange 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.

15. HabitatTropical Rainforest in Madagascar

16. HabitatArboreal forest dwellers

17. HabitatPrefers tall, thick, fruit-bearing trees

18. DietThe Red Ruffed Lemur is:a frugivore (eating fruits) a folivore (eating foliage)a nectivore (eating nectar)Fruit makes up 75% of their dietThey also eat leaves, shoots and seedsTheir diet varies depending on the seasonOne of their favorite fruits is figs and they travel the jungle to find themThey get water from eating fruit or climbing down to the ground to drink from streams

19. PredatorsBoa Constrictors

20. PredatorsEagles

21. PredatorsHawks

22. PredatorsFossa

23. Physical AdaptationsThick FurBenefit: Protection from the elements

24. Physical AdaptationsLong, strong fingers and toesBenefit: Good for climbing and hanging onto branches

25. Physical AdaptationsLong, thick tailBenefit: Helps balance when leaping and climbing

26. Physical AdaptationsMale and Female Scent GlandsBenefit: Communication and territory marking

27. Physical AdaptationsKeen EyesightBenefit: Find food and avoid predators

28. Physical AdaptationsLong arms and legsBenefit: Able to reach far when leaping and climbing

29. Physical AdaptationsLong, pointed snoutBenefit: Sipping nectar from flowers

30. Physical AdaptationsProtruding overbite and spaced lower six teethBenefit: Creates a comb for grooming

31. Physical AdaptationsThe females have three sets of mammary glandsBenefit: Able to nurse larger litters

32. Physical AdaptationsThe second claw on its hind legs are longer and thinner.Benefit: Used for grooming

33. Behavioral AdaptationsSometimes hang by their feet on branchesBenefit: Able to grab far away food

34. Behavioral AdaptationsVocalizes using 12 distinct callsBenefit: Communication with other lemurs

35. Behavioral AdaptationsLive in family groups of two adults with offspringBenefit: Protection, finding food and raising young

36. Crepuscular/DiurnalBenefit: Able to find fruit and flowers in the daytime. Finds food while predators may be sleepingBehavioral Adaptations

37. Usually stays in the treetopsBenefit: Finds food in the canopy and avoids predatorsBehavioral Adaptations

38. Endangered SpeciesOnly 1,000 to 10,000 remain in the wildOne of the most endangered species of lemur:Small geographic rangeHabitat destructionHunting and live capture for petsWhile 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

39. Interesting FactsMadagascar separated from Africa over 160 million years agoLemurs developed only on MadagascarRed Ruffed Lemurs can travel through the treetops1200m a day in search of ripe fruitWhen 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.

40. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

41. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

42. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

43. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

44. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

45. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

46. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

47. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

48. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

49. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

50. Zoo EnvironmentIndoorsEnclosed by glass and barsLots of concrete, like boxes to live inFour adult animals housed togetherLittle live vegetation2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft longSome rocks and ledgesRopes and logs to climb onPoop all over the groundWater bowls in floor of enclosure

51. Zoo Improvements If 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.

52. SourcesThe Wild Ones Animal IndexSan Francisco ZooBristol ZooWoodland Park ZooAnimal BytesGoogle ImagesConservation of lemurs in human-dominated landscapes by Barbara Martinez, PhD student