Quick answer
The ring-tailed lemur is a primate found only on the island of Madagascar, instantly recognizable by its long black-and-white striped tail. It lives in female-led troops, spends more time on the ground than other lemurs, and loves to sunbathe. Wild ring-tailed lemurs usually live around 16 years.
Key takeaway
The ring-tailed lemur is a primate found only on the island of Madagascar, instantly recognizable by its long black-and-white striped tail. It lives in female-led troops, spends more time on the ground than other lemurs, and loves to sunbathe. Wild ring-tailed lemurs usually live around 16 years.
Ring-Tailed Lemur overview
Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) is a mammal listed here as Endangered. Typical weight 2.2 kg (5 lb); lifespan around Around 16 years in the wild.
Ring-Tailed Lemur ecology
Diet: Omnivore (fruit, leaves, flowers, insects). Habitat: Forests and scrub of southern Madagascar. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures across the native range.
Ring-Tailed Lemurs and people
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild ring-tailed lemurs are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Status and further reading
Conservation label in our guides: Endangered. See the full Ring-Tailed Lemur profile for taxonomy, FAQs, and related topic guides on this site.
Found only in Madagascar
Like all lemurs, the ring-tailed lemur lives nowhere else on Earth but Madagascar, where it occupies the dry forests, scrub, and rocky canyons of the island's south and southwest. Lemurs are a striking example of evolution in isolation, having diversified into around a hundred species after their ancestors reached the island millions of years ago.
Conservation
The ring-tailed lemur is listed as Endangered, and wild numbers have fallen sharply. The main threats are habitat loss from logging, charcoal production, and farming, along with hunting and the illegal pet trade. Protected reserves and community-based conservation in Madagascar are essential to the species' future.
Sources
Ring-Tailed Lemur FAQs
What are key facts about ring-tailed lemurs?
The ring-tailed lemur is a primate found only on the island of Madagascar, instantly recognizable by its long black-and-white striped tail. It lives in female-led troops, spends more time on the ground than other lemurs, and loves to sunbathe. Wild ring-tailed lemurs usually live around 16 years.
What is the scientific name of the ring-tailed lemur?
Lemur catta — used in research and conservation listings for ring-tailed lemurs.
What do ring-tailed lemurs eat?
Ring-Tailed Lemurs eat fruit, leaves, flowers and insects, with seasonal and regional variation in Forests and scrub of southern Madagascar.
Where do ring-tailed lemurs live?
They are associated with Forests and scrub of southern Madagascar. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of ring-tailed lemurs?
Listed in our guides as Endangered. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.