Ring-tailed lemurs

Information about Ring-tailed lemur

Ring-tailed lemurs are unmistakable because of their long, vividly striped, black-and-white tail. They are one of the most distinctive and recognisable species of lemur.

The ring-tailed lemur is a medium-sized primate that is about the size of a house cat. Adult male and female ring-tailed lemurs weigh from 3–3.5 kg.

In the wild, ring-tailed lemurs can live about 20 years. They are the most commonly found species of lemur in zoos, where they can live up to a decade longer.

Interesting facts about Ring-tailed lemur

All species of lemurs are endemic to Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island.

Ring-tailed lemurs are an ecologically “flexible” (or, adaptable) primate. This means they can be found in a diverse range of habitats, including rocky outcrop forests, gallery forests, deciduous forests, spiny forests, and open anthropogenic (human-impacted) savannas.

Lemur species, including ring-tailed lemurs, also have a “toothcomb”. In this unique dental adaptation, the lower incisors and canines have compressed tightly together. Lemurs use their toothcomb for grooming themselves and other group members.

Pictures of Ring-tailed lemur

Highlights where the Ring-tailed lemur can be seen

Diurnal Visit Kirindy

A visit to Kirindy Forest during the day offers a completely different but equally captivating experience. As the sun illuminates the dry deciduous forest, you’ll have the chance to encounter a variety of Madagascar’s unique wildlife, including the rare Verreaux's sifaka, red-fronted lemurs, and a host of colorful birds. The forest's distinct landscape, with its towering baobabs and dense vegetation, provides a stunning backdrop for exploring on foot. Daytime also offers better visibility for spotting the park’s reptiles, including chameleons and snakes, while the fossa, Madagascar’s largest predator, may occasionally be seen resting in the shade.

Visit Anja Community Reserve

The small Anja Community Reserve is a very successful ecotourism story. The local farmers stopped burning the area about twenty years ago, and have since ensured that a few large groups of ring-tailed lemurs can survive in the forest hidden between the rocks. Anja has become a vital example of how community management of natural resources can both effectively protect the area and benefit the community. Throughout the morning, you will be guided through the park by a skilled guide.

Visit Isalo National Park

Within the southwestern Ihorombe region, this national park is known for its varied and unique terrain. Centuries of wind and rain erosion have whittled the landscape of Isalo National Park into a series of deep gorges, vast canyons and bizarrely shaped sandstone rock formations, punctuated by palm-lined oases and sprawling grasslands. Besides the striking vistas the park affords, visitors will also be able to enjoy cooling off in the natural swimming holes dotted across it and catch glimpses of the resident lemurs and other endemic wildlife species.

Visit Ranomafana National Park

Visit Ranomafana National Park: one of Madagascar’s most popular national parks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tropical rainforest features an array of rare and exotic fauna and flora. The park is home to twelve species of lemur, one of which is the critically endangered Golden Bamboo Lemur, discovered here only in 1986.

Ring-tailed lemurs

Information about Ring-tailed lemur

Interesting facts about Ring-tailed lemur

Pictures of Ring-tailed lemur

Highlights where the Ring-tailed lemur can be seen

Diurnal Visit Kirindy

Visit Anja Community Reserve

Visit Isalo National Park

Visit Ranomafana National Park

Our trips to spot the Ring-tailed lemur

Information about Ring-tailed lemur

Interesting facts about Ring-tailed lemur

Pictures of Ring-tailed lemur

Highlights where the Ring-tailed lemur can be seen

Diurnal Visit Kirindy

Visit Anja Community Reserve

Visit Isalo National Park

Visit Ranomafana National Park

Our trips to spot the Ring-tailed lemur