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Ring-tailed lemur
'In a group of ring-tailed lemurs, the females are in charge.'
Discover in real lifeFood
fruits lying on the ground and fruit
Lifetime
27 years on average
Weight
2.3 to 3.5 kilograms
Number of youngsters
1 to 2 youngsters
Wear time
4 to 4.5 months
IUCN Status
endangered
EEP?
yes
Follow me!
Ring-tailed lemurs can be recognised by their black-and-white striped tail. This tail helps a ring-tailed lemur to keep its balance. But it also uses it to let other lemurs in the group know where it is. When ring-tailed lemurs set off in search of food, they hold their tails aloft. This allows them to follow one another, even in the tall grass.
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Theme area: On the Move
You can see the ring-tailed lemur in the ‘On the Move’ theme area. Here, you’ll discover how animals move around and why moving, or, conversely, staying still, is important for survival.
Daily routine
Ring-tailed lemurs sleep in the trees. They wake up in the morning just before sunrise. They then seek out a clearing to eat and sunbathe. They sunbathe with their arms and legs spread wide, to catch as much sun as possible. Around midday, they rest for a while in the shade. The rest of the day is spent moving about and foraging. In the evening, the whole group returns to the sleeping tree, where they stay until the following morning.