Red-tailed sportive lemur

Red-tailed Lemur ( Lepilemur ruficaudatus )

The red-tailed Lemur ( Lepilemur ruficaudatus ) is a living primate in Madagascar from the group of lemurs within the lemurs.

Features

The build of the Red-tailed lemurs is similar to the other lemurs. There are more small primates with long, powerful hind legs. They reach a body length 21-28 inches, the tail is 23 to 25 inches long. The weight is around 0.8 to 0.9 kilograms. Their fur is gray on the back, shoulders and upper arms are reddish brown. The throat is whitish and the belly light gray. Named giving feature is the red tail. The gray head is rounded, the ears are large and rounded, and the eyes are large as an adaptation to the nocturnal lifestyle.

Distribution and habitat

Red-tailed lemurs live in the south-western Madagascar between the rivers Tsiribihina and Mangoky. Their habitat is dry deciduous forests.

Way of life

Like all lemurs are nocturnal and usually stay up in the trees. There, they move vertically climbing and jumping on, during the day they sleep in tree hollows. One male and one female inhabit together an area of approximately 1 hectare. They often sleep together in tree holes, even the bedtimes are synchronized, but go separate in search of food. Their diet consists mainly of leaves, in addition they also eat fruits and other plant parts.

Mating occurs from May to July, after a 130 - day gestation, the female gives birth to usually a single young is born. This is at least nursed for four months and is about a year independently.

Endangering

The exact level of danger of the red-tailed lemurs is not known, as with other Malagasy primates should the destruction of their habitat are the main threats. The IUCN lists the species under " insufficient data " available ( data deficient ).