Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur

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Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur[1]

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Varecia
Species: V. variegata
Binomial name
Varecia variegata
(Kerr, 1792)

The Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) is one of the two species of ruffed lemurs, the other being the Red Ruffed Lemur. Like all lemurs, it is native only to Madagascar.

The Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur can grow up to 4 ft long, although typically a little smaller, and is about 7.3-8.4 lbs. Its lifespan in captivity is about 18 years but many live to 20. It is quadrupedal.

Rabbi Natan Slifkin, known as the Zoorabbi, with a Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur.
Rabbi Natan Slifkin, known as the Zoorabbi, with a Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur.

The Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur is black with white areas on its limbs head and back. Its neck has a mane and the face has a muzzle like a dog's. Males and females look the same. It has the second loudest call of any primate, second only to the howler monkey.[citation needed] It is the only lemur known to have litters rather than solitary young.

Its diet consists mainly of sweet fruits, leaves, nectar, flowers, seeds, and even dirt in some cases. It usually searches for food alone, rejoining its small group later to sleep.

The Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur is preyed upon by boa constrictors, eagles and the Fossa. Because the Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur is diurnal, the nocturnal Fossa poses the biggest threat.

Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, with a visitor, at the Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England
Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, with a visitor, at the Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England

There are three subspecies:

  • Varecia variegata variegata
  • Southern Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Varecia variegata editorum
  • White-belted Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Varecia variegata subcincta

[edit] References

  1. ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 117. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ Baillie (1996). Varecia variegata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN A1cd v2.3)

[edit] External links

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