The red-ruffed lemur (or Varecia rubra) is a critically endangered species of primate native to the Northern Masoala rainforests of Madagascar. With yellow eyes and a black pointed face surrounded by the distinctive red ruff, the lemur’s body is covered in thick red fur and it has a black tail, hands and feet. It also has a white patch on the top of its head.
Latin Name
Varecia rubra
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Animal Facts
Red ruffed lemurs are very vocal and will make alarm calls to alert their group to predators.
Red ruffed lemurs have evolved a long, pointed snout and a long tongue for eating nectar from flowers, meaning they play an important role in pollination.
Ruffed lemurs are the only primates that give birth to litters of young, and can birth up to 6 infants in one pregnancy.
The word ‘lemur’ is derived from the latin word ‘Lemures’ meaning spirits or ghosts.
Red ruffed lemurs groom their thick coat using a long claw on the second toe of their back leg.