Ring-tailed lemur

The ring-tailed lemur is a Madagascan primate with a long, black-and-white banded tail. It lives in social groups and spends more time on the ground than most lemurs.

Lemur: A primate native to Madagascar, belonging to the infraorder Lemuriformes. Ring-tailed lemurs are one of Madagascar’s best-known lemur species.
Madagascar dry deciduous forests: Seasonally dry forests in western Madagascar with trees that shed leaves during the dry season. Ring-tailed lemurs use dry forests as well as other habitats in southern Madagascar.
Indri: A large, mostly arboreal lemur native to eastern Madagascar, known for its loud calls. Unlike the ground-foraging ring-tailed lemur, the indri is highly adapted to life in trees.
Endangered species: A species classified as facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The ring-tailed lemur is classified as endangered because its population has declined sharply.
Strepsirrhini: A primate suborder that includes lemurs, lorises, and galagos. Its moist nose and toothcomb place the ring-tailed lemur among strepsirrhine primates.
Spiny thicket: A dry southern Madagascar habitat dominated by thorny, drought-adapted plants. This distinctive habitat supports ring-tailed lemur populations adapted to scarce water and food.
Verreaux's sifaka: A white-and-brown sifaka lemur of southern Madagascar that moves through trees and bounds across open ground. Its specialized vertical leaping contrasts with the ring-tailed lemur’s frequent quadrupedal walking.
IUCN Red List: A global assessment system that classifies species by their risk of extinction. Its assessments document the ring-tailed lemur’s endangered status and conservation concerns.
Toothcomb: A forward-projecting set of lower incisors and canines used in grooming by many strepsirrhine primates. Ring-tailed lemurs use this specialized dental structure to groom themselves and group members.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park: A protected area in eastern Madagascar known for its humid forests and lemur diversity. It offers a contrast to the drier habitats most associated with ring-tailed lemurs.

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Primate socialityBroader topic: Its female dominance offers a distinctive case among primate social systems.