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Primates - Ring-tailed Lemur
Topic Started: Nov 6 2013, 10:59 AM (2,602 Views)
Militant
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Ring-tailed Lemur ~ Lemur catta

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General Information

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Lemur
Species: L. catta

Location

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Conservation Status

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Sizes
Weight 2.2 kg (4.9 lb)
Length (average)95-110 cm (37-43 in)
Height (average)<height>


In Zoos

Type of Exhibit: Lemurs require large spacious, open enclosures with several large trees for arboreal climbing with several large lateral poles between them. They can be provided with bird proof feeders that can be hung from trees and elevated shelters. Sufficient perches for sitting or sleeping of a minimum height of one metre above the ground should be provided, therefore allowing each adult lemur to position itself by itself or to allow for more than one lemur to sit allowing for mutual grooming to occur. The lemurs prefer broad horizontal limbs to allow traversing over. Horizontal pathways of rigid or semi rigid materials are required, allowing the lemurs to move throughout the exhibit promoting exercise and well being, while also allowing any group members to move away from any undue dominance, or conflict occurring. Areas are also required to allow for sitting at or near ground level for the lemurs to sunbathe. Solid resting and traversing surfaces need to be of a rough texture to ensure they are not slippery when wet. Should ropes be utilized within the exhibit, they need to be of a weight where they remain taut when the lemur(s) traverse over them. The rope ends must be protected against fraying, which has the potential to result in entanglement and possible death

Ring-tailed lemurs are not natural swimmers and exposure to large bodies of water such as in a moat may be dangerous, so it's best to avoid large or deep watering holes and moats. Natural ground cover is ideal for ring-tailed lemurs, as it allows them to eat the grass that is growing and dig for soil and insects. Sand is also appropriate for an easily cleaned substrate.

Lemur exhibits are required to provide the primates with access to shelter from climatic extremes over the course of a given year. A sheltered area is required to provide an environment with air temperature ranging between 18 to 30 degrees Celsius. It should be noted heated concrete shelving can be utilized within these areas to provide the required heating during the winter months. The shelters need to be of sufficient size and number to the group to where it prevents dominant animals denying access to subordinate animals.

Temperament: The Ring-tailed Lemur is one of the most vocal primates and has a complex array of distinct vocalizations used to maintain group cohesion during foraging and alert group members to the presence of a predator. Calls range from simple to complex. They are highly social animals, and live in a large groups called lemur balls.

Diet: The Ring-tailed Lemur is an opportunistic omnivore primarily eating fruits and leaves. It is known to eat from as many as three dozen different plant species, and its diet includes flowers, herbs, bark and sap. It has been observed eating decayed wood, earth, spider webs, insect cocoons, arthropods(spiders, caterpillars, cicadas and grasshoppers) and small vertebrates(birds and chameleons).

Ring-tailed lemurs in captivity can eat bananas, as well as plants such as eucalyptus flowers, melons, sweet potato leaves and other raided crops. Most water needs are thought to be met through the diet, but drinking from tree hollows, puddles and rivers has been observed, so having a small watering hole or bowl will suffice.

Social Needs: Ring-tailed lemurs are found in the following group types in captivity and the wild: adult male groups, adult female groups, and breeding groups of females with one male and their dependent offspring.

Extra Information:
  • In the wild, it is rare for female ring-tailed lemurs to live past 16 years of age and the oldest known
    wild female was between 18 and 20 years old. Male life span is even less well-known, because of the social system, but have been recorded living to at least 15 years of age.
  • During the mating season, males wave their scented tails at females as a form of sexual overture; this usually results in the female cuffing or biting the male and elicits subordinate vocalizations from the male.
  • In the wild, ring-tailed lemurs are polygamous – a pattern of mating in which both males and females have more than one sexual partner during a single breeding season.
  • The gestation of ring-tailed lemurs is approximately 134 days, with a mean litter of 1 and a maximum
    litter of 3.


Exhibit Examples
Edited by zoocrazy, Nov 6 2013, 11:21 AM.
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Burns
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King of Lemurs

Please change the conservation status to endangered.
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