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  • Nyungwe Forest Heart Of Africa
  • Ring-tailed Lemur

Ring-tailed lemur

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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

16-18 years in the wild,

up to 33 years under human care

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The ring-tailed lemur

Social life

Social life

In the wild, ring-tails live in matriarchal social groups of up to 30 individuals. Females stay with their troop their whole lives. Hierarchy is typically established in their youth through play-fighting. Males are completely dominated by the females - even the lowliest female is superior to the highest-ranked male.

Stink wars and stink flirts

Stink wars and stink flirts

During mating season, males contest for female attention through ‘stink fights’. Coating their tails with smelly gland secretions, they wave them high in the air, each trying to out-stink rival males.

Males move between troops every 2-5 years. Many leave their natal troop as subadults to join other groups. They must fight their way to the top, otherwise lowly-ranked males get smacked around a lot.

Gift of the gab

Gift of the gab

Low-ranking males often end up hanging around the periphery of their troop to avoid being picked on. But these outliers risk getting picked off by predators easily. Studies show that these males use the gift of the gab to keep within the good graces of their group.

They rely on two sounds: a moan to stay in touch and a ‘hmm’ sound to signal friendliness towards more tolerant troop members. 

Together, we protect wildlife

Many rainforest animals are threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Visit our conservation pages for more information on projects that Mandai Nature supports, and to find out how you can get involved too.

The IUCN Status

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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The Wild Scoop
The Wild Scoop

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