Ring-Tailed Lemur
Lemur catta
Distribution:
Southwestern Madagascar
Habitat:
Rainforests, scrublands.
Diet:
Fruit, veges, leaves, flowers and insects. Our ring-tailed lemurs at Hamilton Zoo are on a strict diet which does not include any fruit due to diabetes concerns.
Gestation:
135 days, one - two infants born
Longevity:
15 - 20 years in the wild, 25 - 30 years in captivity.
Predators:
Potential predators include raptors, snakes and introduced dogs and cats
Conservation Status:
Near Threatened
General:
The Ring-tailed lemur is easily recognizable with their extremely long, heavily furred tail, covered with black and white rings which allows the animal to take long leaps when moving between trees. The Ring-tailed lemurs are of high scientific interest due to their use of tools in daily life as well as excellent problem-solving skills.
Ring-tailed lemurs are one of the most vocal primates and have a complex array of distinct vocalizations. Their repatuoire includes purrs, clicks, yaps, wails, moans and many more sounds.
They are very social and are usually seen in groups of 12-20 individuals. The females are dominant within these groups, winning all disputes with males.
Fun fact: When sunbathing, these animals adopt a yoga-like posture, sitting on their haunches and stretching out their legs to warm up their underside.
At Hamilton Zoo:
Our ring-tailed lemur group is a firm favourite of our visitors. We have a large group that live down the boardwalk near the meerkats.
Females:
Amara - 7/11/15
Maizina - 7/11/15
Harena - 10/10/15
Noelle - 25/12/11
Kintana - 17/10/12
Tiana - 10/9/17
Masika - 13/11/19
Peverell - 10/9/20
Nagini - 26/09/20
Anita - 12/9/21
Willow - 20/9/21
Charmaine - 18/9/21
Damayanthi - 11/11/21
Ronell - 11/12/21
Males:
Mahaleo - 21/11/19