The Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur Catta)
Physical Characteristics
Ring-Tailed Lemurs have black skin, their body is mainly covered in grey fur except for it's face which is white. Their noses are moist, black like with wiskers. This Lemur has astonishing yellow and amber eyes which make them even more fascinating to watch. They have finger and toe nails and opposable thumbs just like us. Ring-Tailed Lemurs are not very big animals, they measure to be about 42.5cm (1.39ft) long and only weigh about 2.2kg. They make their way around by either running or walking but sometimes, just for fun they jump or hop their way around. They can also climb trees or mountains. Ring-Tailed Lemurs are warm blooded species which means that their body temperature stays the same level regardless to what the weather and temperature they are living in. They are primates to Monkeys, Apes, and Humand. A primate is is an animal that shares the same characteristics with another animal.Ring-Tailed Lemurs are the only species of lemurs that have a long black and white bushy tail. Suprisingly they are the only species of lemur to live in Madagascar.
Ring-Tailed Lemurs have black skin, their body is mainly covered in grey fur except for it's face which is white. Their noses are moist, black like with wiskers. This Lemur has astonishing yellow and amber eyes which make them even more fascinating to watch. They have finger and toe nails and opposable thumbs just like us. Ring-Tailed Lemurs are not very big animals, they measure to be about 42.5cm (1.39ft) long and only weigh about 2.2kg. They make their way around by either running or walking but sometimes, just for fun they jump or hop their way around. They can also climb trees or mountains. Ring-Tailed Lemurs are warm blooded species which means that their body temperature stays the same level regardless to what the weather and temperature they are living in. They are primates to Monkeys, Apes, and Humand. A primate is is an animal that shares the same characteristics with another animal.Ring-Tailed Lemurs are the only species of lemurs that have a long black and white bushy tail. Suprisingly they are the only species of lemur to live in Madagascar.
Ecosystem/Habitat
The Ring tailed lemur can only be found in Southern and South Western Madagascar. Madagascar is 250 miles (400km) off the coast of southern Africa on the Indian Ocean. A Ring-Tailed Lemur's habitat usually consists of many trees because the trees provide them with their food. The east African Island of Madagascar has a tropical climate with a rainy season lasting from December through to April and a dry season lasting from May through to November. Much of their habitat has been changed by humans, e.g. clearing out the forests for agriculture, burning thing for charcoal production and deforestration for the building of houses and buisnesses.
The Ring tailed lemur can only be found in Southern and South Western Madagascar. Madagascar is 250 miles (400km) off the coast of southern Africa on the Indian Ocean. A Ring-Tailed Lemur's habitat usually consists of many trees because the trees provide them with their food. The east African Island of Madagascar has a tropical climate with a rainy season lasting from December through to April and a dry season lasting from May through to November. Much of their habitat has been changed by humans, e.g. clearing out the forests for agriculture, burning thing for charcoal production and deforestration for the building of houses and buisnesses.
Food/Hunt
The Ring-Tailed Lemur follows the herbivore diet eating mostly fruits and plants, but their favorite thing to eat is kily pods. They usually lick morning dew or rain water as their water source because there is no body of water near by so every once and a while they will make trips to a river or stream especially in the dry seasons. This type of lemur tends to eat twice a day once early in the morning and once again in the evening. They eat Bird eggs small mammals and insects. The Ring-Tailed Lemur is a nocturnal insectivorous, meaning that they eat insects with small bodies, long noses and big eyes.
The Ring-Tailed Lemur follows the herbivore diet eating mostly fruits and plants, but their favorite thing to eat is kily pods. They usually lick morning dew or rain water as their water source because there is no body of water near by so every once and a while they will make trips to a river or stream especially in the dry seasons. This type of lemur tends to eat twice a day once early in the morning and once again in the evening. They eat Bird eggs small mammals and insects. The Ring-Tailed Lemur is a nocturnal insectivorous, meaning that they eat insects with small bodies, long noses and big eyes.
Enemies
One particular animal that the Ring-Tailed lemurs look out for are hawks. When a hawk passes by the lemur will sound a high pich shriek and move downward towards the bushes to protect themselves. If a Ring-Tailed lemur spots a predator on the ground it will begin a series of synchronized barks and clicks and stare the animal down. One of the lemur's main predators is the Catlike Fossa, the largest carnivore in Madagascar.
One particular animal that the Ring-Tailed lemurs look out for are hawks. When a hawk passes by the lemur will sound a high pich shriek and move downward towards the bushes to protect themselves. If a Ring-Tailed lemur spots a predator on the ground it will begin a series of synchronized barks and clicks and stare the animal down. One of the lemur's main predators is the Catlike Fossa, the largest carnivore in Madagascar.
Reproduction/Birth
Babies grow in the mother's stomach for about 4 and 1/2 months before giving birth. When they are born they are approximately 10cm long, very thin and already have the beggining of a ringed tail, it is carried on the mother's back. lemurs can live for 11 to 12 years old in the wild and 20 to 27 years in captivity. Ring-Tailed Lemurs occasionally have twins or even triplets.
Babies grow in the mother's stomach for about 4 and 1/2 months before giving birth. When they are born they are approximately 10cm long, very thin and already have the beggining of a ringed tail, it is carried on the mother's back. lemurs can live for 11 to 12 years old in the wild and 20 to 27 years in captivity. Ring-Tailed Lemurs occasionally have twins or even triplets.