# What Do Ring-Tailed Lemurs Eat?

> What ring-tailed lemurs eat: Omnivore (fruit, leaves, flowers, insects), foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Forests and scrub of southern Madagascar.

- **Species:** Ring-Tailed Lemur (*Lemur catta*)
- **Conservation status:** Endangered
- **Diet:** Omnivore (fruit, leaves, flowers, insects)
- **Habitat:** Forests and scrub of southern Madagascar
- **Lifespan:** Around 16 years in the wild
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ring-tailed-lemur/what-do-ring-tailed-lemur-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ring-tailed-lemur/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## 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.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## The famous striped tail

The ring-tailed lemur's tail is longer than its body and marked with 13 alternating black and white bands. The tail is not used for gripping; instead it works as a flag that keeps the troop together as they move through forest and as a signal during disputes. It also stars in stink fights, when males rub scent onto their tails and waft it at rivals.

## Help protect the Ring-Tailed Lemur

The ring-tailed lemur is listed as Endangered, with habitat loss the leading threat to its future.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ring-tailed-lemur/what-do-ring-tailed-lemur-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.