Ring tailed lemur

Description:

Impossible to confuse with any other species, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) has a distinctive long and bushy black-and-white-ringed tail. These medium-sized lemurs move quadrupedally and are the most terrestrial of Madagascar’s primates. The back is greyish-brown and the rump and limbs are grey. The underparts are cream and the neck and crown are dark grey. The face is white with large, dark, triangular patches around the eyes. The snout is also dark, but the ears are lighter than the crown. Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Redlist the ring tailed lemur faces habitat destruction through fires, over-grazing by livestock, tree-cutting for charcoal production, and development have all contributed to the severe changes that this unique island has seen. The ring-tailed lemur is still hunted in many areas and individuals are trapped and kept as pets

Habitat:

The ring-tailed lemur inhabits dry brush and scrub, as well as closed canopy forest. Unlike other lemur species it is found in open areas and will walk along the ground as well as moving between the trees. The population in the Andringitra Massif is found at higher elevations with exposed rocks, low bush and sub-alpine vegetation