Skip to main content
450 Featured Specimen
Black-and-white ruffed lemur

Details

Black-and-white ruffed lemur

Varecia variegata

Size
43–57 cm · 3.1–4.1 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Sociality
Social
Lifespan
18–20 years

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is a large Madagascan lemur with a shaggy contrasting coat. By day it feeds in the canopy and gives loud carrying calls.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It is confined to Madagascar's forests. Humid rainforest canopy and large fruiting trees are especially important, and fragmented forest is a serious problem.

Appearance

Length 43-57 cm; weight 3.1-4.1 kg. Long black-and-white fur forms bold patches, with a full ruff around the neck. A long tail aids balance in trees.

Behavior

Diurnal and social, it moves through the canopy in small groups. Loud calls maintain contact and signal territory or alarm.

Feeding

A herbivore, it feeds mainly on fruit, with nectar, flowers, and young leaves also taken. Visits to flowers can make it an important pollinator.

Reproduction

Unusually for lemurs, females build nests and may bear multiple young. Infants begin life in the nest before traveling with the mother.

Notes

It is listed as Critically Endangered. Deforestation, hunting, and fragmentation in Madagascar are severe threats.