Red Ruffed Lemur

The Red Ruffed Lemur has a thick, soft, long coat. Most of the dorsal area of its body has a rusty red hue. It has a white band on the back of the neck and small white bands on the heels, digits, hind limbs, nose, and ears. The ventral area and extremities of its body, the tail, the face, and the upper area of the head are black.

This species is sociable, living in small family groups. It is an arboreal animal, being more active at twilight and during the night. The Red Ruffed Lemur defends its territory aggressively, using alarm calls.
It loves to bask in the sun, and like monkeys, it stands upside down when feeding on tree branches. They mate between May and July and the young are born at the beginning of the wet season, developing in a period when there is abundant food. Parents are responsible for carrying their babies, doing so with their mouths.

The population of this species is expected to decline by about 80% over the next 24 years. Poaching, reduction in the extent and quality of their habitat, increased agriculture for commercial cultivation, and illegal logging are the main threats to the Red Ruffed Lemur. Most of the hunting they are targeted (over 90%) is for subsistence purposes for populations in rural regions with food shortages. Poaching increases in the cold winter months when these animals are trapped while foraging for seasonal fruit trees. This species is officially protected only in Masoala National Park and Makira Protected Area.