The red ruffed lemur is a primate found exclusively in Madagascar. It has red fur and a ruff of fur around its neck. It lives in family groups and eats mostly fruit. The red ruffed lemur is threatened by habitat loss and hunting. In zoos, its enclosures are often bare concrete rooms lacking vegetation, space, and enrichment, unlike its natural rainforest habitat. Improvements could include more space, live plants, climbing structures, and outdoor access to better support the species' adaptations.

1. The red Ruffed lemur By Daniel

2. Scientific Classification Common Name: Red Ruffed Lemur Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Lemuridae Genus Species: Vareciavariegataruba

3. Description Soft, thick, orange-red fur

4. Description Fox-like black head with bright yellow eyes

5. Description A ruff of reddish fur around the neck

6. Description Nape of neck may have a patch of white fur

7. Description Black belly, hands, feet, and long bushy tail

8. Description One of the largest primates in Madagascar Between 1.5 and 2 feet in length Weighs 7-10 pounds Tail usually longer than the body

9. Usually 2-3 offspring at a time Can have up to 6 offspring Gestation is 90-102 days Young are left in a nest while parents find food If the Lemurs need to move nests, they carry the babies in their mouth Sometimes the babies are each given a nest The babies are born with fur and their eyes open Sexual maturity is 20 months Reproduction

10. Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs Like all lemurs, found exclusively on the island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa

11. Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

12. Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs Restricted to the Masoala Peninsula.

13. Where to Find Red Ruffed Lemurs

14. Red Ruffed Lemurs’ Range Range separated from the range of the Black and White Rugged Lemur by the Antainambalana River, the Red Ruffed Lemur on the North and the Black and White Lemur on the South.

15. Habitat Tropical Rainforest in Madagascar

16. Habitat Arboreal forest dwellers

17. Habitat Prefers tall, thick, fruit-bearing trees

18. Diet The Red Ruffed Lemur is: a frugivore (eating fruits) a folivore (eating foliage) a nectivore (eating nectar) Fruit makes up 75% of their diet They also eat leaves, shoots and seeds Their diet varies depending on the season One of their favorite fruits is figs and they travel the jungle to find them They get water from eating fruit or climbing down to the ground to drink from streams

19. Predators Boa Constrictors

20. Predators Eagles

21. Predators Hawks

22. Predators Fossa

23. Physical Adaptations Thick Fur Benefit: Protection from the elements

24. Physical Adaptations Long, strong fingers and toes Benefit: Good for climbing and hanging onto branches

25. Physical Adaptations Long, thick tail Benefit: Helps balance when leaping and climbing

26. Physical Adaptations Male and Female Scent Glands Benefit: Communication and territory marking

27. Physical Adaptations Keen Eyesight Benefit: Find food and avoid predators

28. Physical Adaptations Long arms and legs Benefit: Able to reach far when leaping and climbing

29. Physical Adaptations Long, pointed snout Benefit: Sipping nectar from flowers

30. Physical Adaptations Protruding overbite and spaced lower six teeth Benefit: Creates a comb for grooming

31. Physical Adaptations The females have three sets of mammary glands Benefit: Able to nurse larger litters

32. Physical Adaptations The second claw on its hind legs are longer and thinner. Benefit: Used for grooming

33. Behavioral Adaptations Sometimes hang by their feet on branches Benefit: Able to grab far away food

34. Behavioral Adaptations Vocalizes using 12 distinct calls Benefit: Communication with other lemurs

35. Behavioral Adaptations Live in family groups of two adults with offspring Benefit: Protection, finding food and raising young

36. Crepuscular/Diurnal Benefit: Able to find fruit and flowers in the daytime. Finds food while predators may be sleeping Behavioral Adaptations

37. Usually stays in the treetops Benefit: Finds food in the canopy and avoids predators Behavioral Adaptations

38. Endangered Species Only 1,000 to 10,000 remain in the wild One of the most endangered species of lemur: Small geographic range Habitat destruction Hunting and live capture for pets While doing my research I came across a site that was titled, “Red Ruffed Lemurs for Sale!”  The Masaola National Park, established in 1997 offers hope for the continued survival of Red Ruffed Lemurs in Madagascar

39. Interesting Facts Madagascar separated from Africa over 160 million years ago Lemurs developed only on Madagascar Red Ruffed Lemurs can travel through the treetops1200m a day in search of ripe fruit When Red Ruffed Lemurs live near Black and White Lemurs in zoos, they can understand each other’s calls even though these species don’t normally meet in the wild.

40. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

41. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

42. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

43. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

44. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

45. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

46. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

47. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

48. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

49. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

50. Zoo Environment Indoors Enclosed by glass and bars Lots of concrete, like boxes to live in Four adult animals housed together Little live vegetation 2 rooms approximately 7ft wide and 8-9ft long Some rocks and ledges Ropes and logs to climb on Poop all over the ground Water bowls in floor of enclosure

51. Zoo Improvements If I had the power to change the Red Ruffed Lemurs zoo habitat, this is what I would do. I liked that there was some things to climb on but I think that to maintain the adaptation of having long arms and legs to climb higher we must give them more things to climb on. I also think there should be more room for the Red Ruffed Lemurs because they are territorial and are adapted to traveling long distances to find food. I think there should be outside space to maintain the adaptation of having thick fur to withstand the elements. I believe that to keep the adaptation of a long snout to reach into flowers to get nectar, we must give them real flowers to stick their muzzle in and get nectar. I think that their habitat should be higher off the ground because they naturally like to stay higher in the trees than on the ground. I also would have made the habitat have more live vegetation and less concrete because the Red Ruffed Lemur naturally lives in the rainforest. I would also like to include running water to be more like the streams in their natural habitat. I liked a little about this habitat but I wanted to change a lot.

52. Sources The Wild Ones Animal Index San Francisco Zoo Bristol Zoo Woodland Park Zoo Animal Bytes Google Images Conservation of lemurs in human-dominated landscapes by Barbara Martinez, PhD student