Lemur Red Ruffed 16cm - Soft Toy

Physical Characteristics
The Red-Ruffed Lemur is one of the largest primates of Madagascar with a body length of 53 cm, a tail length of 60 cm and a weight of 3.5-4 kg. Its soft, thick fur is red and black in colour but a few are known to have a white or pink patch on the back of the neck and a ring on the base of the tail in a similar colour.

Habitat
Like all lemurs, the Red-Ruffed Lemur is native to Madagascar and occurs only in the rainforests of Masoala, in the northeast of the island.

Behaviour
The Red Ruffed Lemur is a very clean animal and spends a lot of time grooming itself and each other. The lower incisors (front teeth) and the claw on the second toe of the hind foot are specially adapted for this behavior. The lower incisors grow forward in line with each other and are slightly spaced. This creates a toothcomb which can be used to groom its long, soft fur. The claw is also used for grooming. They typically live in small, matriarchal groups of 2-16 individuals, but group sizes of up to 32 have been recorded.

Breeding
Unlike all other diurnal primates, red-ruffed lemur females build nests 10-20 m above the forest floor, made with twigs, leaves, vines, and fur. Like all lemurs it has a fixed breeding season which takes place towards the end of the dry season (May to July) so the young can be born in the wet season when more food is available. Ruffed lemurs are also the only primates with litters of young, and, after a gestation period of 102 days, the female may give birth to up to six, although two or three is more typical. Newborns have fur and can see, but as they are immobile, the female leaves them in the nest until they are seven weeks old and they are weaned at 4 months.

Diet
Lemurs forage for fruit, which makes up the greater part of their diet, but also eat leaves, flowers, tree bark, and sap.

Strange and Interesting Facts
Female dominance in primates is unique to the Red Ruffed Lemur!