Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Photo by Tim Knight

Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur Facts
Source: Lemurs of Madagascar, pp. 210-212
(with permission from Conservation International)

Identification The black-and-white ruffed lemur has a head and body length of about 55 cm and tail length about 60 cm, for a total length of 110-120 cm. Body weight ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 kg. Significant variation in coat color exists, but almost always the hair is black on the ventrum, tail, extremities, inner aspect of limbs, forehead and the circumorbital area, and on top of the head. The ears are lavishly tufted ("ruffed") with long thick white hair. Many forms have been described (see Petter et al., 1977; Tattersall, 1982) and, though no taxonomic conclusions are drawn here, a number of variants are illustrated in Plates 25-27 (modified from Ceska et al., 1992). Towards the south, the dorsal coat is mostly white, with black often restricted to the shoulders and flanks. Towards the north, black dominates the dorsal pelage, but a white band across the back, and with forearms and flanks are common. Several "subspecies" have been named within the black-and-white ruffed lemur group (e.g., variegata, subcincta, editorum), but their validity remains uncertain. For a more detailed discussion, see Tattersall (1992). Further research on the taxonomy of the ruffed lemurs has been identified as a high conservation priority (Mittermeier et al., 1992). Geographic Range Varecia variegata variegata inhabits lowland to mid-altitude (1200 m) eastern rain forests from the Mananara River south of Farafangana north to the Antainambalana River (just north of Maroantsetra). Throughout this large range, the population distribution is very patch, especially for an eastern forest lemur. Ruffed lemurs tend to be rare at higher altitudes (over 1200 m) and are found at low densities at just over 1100 m in Ranomafana National Park. Natural History Photo by Tim Knight One long-term study of Varecia variegata variegata has been carried out to date, on the island of Nosy Mangabe (Morland, 1990, 1991). The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the most frugivorous of the living lemurs, but also feeds on nectar, seeds and leaves according to the season (White, 1989). In general, ruffed lemurs are most active in early morning and in late afternoon/evening. Group size and density appear to vary considerably. Petter et al. (1977), Pollock (1979) and Jolly et al. (1984) report group sizes between two and five individiuals, while Morland (1990, 1991) reports much larger groups of 8-16 individuals and densities of 20-30 animals/sq km on Nosy Mangabe. All group members use a common home range, and aggression is seen between groups. Females form the core of the groups and defend its territory. The weakest social bonds appear to be between males. Grouping patterns change seansonally; females aggregate in larger numbers during the wet summer and are more dispersed during the drier winter. The mating season begins in May on Nosy Mangabe (Morland, 1990, 1991), and most matings are observed in June and July . Twins are ususally born in September and October. Studies in captivity record larger litter sizes and have determined a gestation period of 90-102 days (Hick, 1976; Bogart et al., 1977; Boskoff, 1977). Unlike most other lemurs, infant ruffed lemurs are at first left in nests rather than carried by their mothers (Petter et al., 1977; Klopfer and Dugard, 1976; Jolly et al., 1984). Later, they are carried in the mother's mouth, but in captivity begin to follow the mother around by about three weeks of ages, and are fully mobile at about seven weeks (Klopfer and Boskoff, 1979). Conservation Status The black-and-white ruffed lemur is severely threatened by continued destruction of Madagascar's lowland eastern rain forests and also because it is heavily hunted and trapped for food throughout its range (Constabel et al., 1985; Lindsay and Simons, k1986; Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; M. Rakotomalala, pers. comm.). Varecia variegata variegata is found in a number of protected areas: the Mantady, Tanomafana and Verzanatsoro National Parks, the Angringitra, Betampona and Zahamena Nature Reserves, and the Ambatovaky, Analamazaotra and Nosy Mangave Special Reserves (Pollock, 1984; Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; Harcourt and Thornback, 1990; Morland , 1990, 1991; Mittermeier et al., 1992). However, levels of protection within these arease vary considerably. There are no population figures available, but a reasonable order of magniturde estimate would be 1,000-10,000 (Mittermeier et al., 1992). The black-and-white ruffed lemur breeds very well in captivity. There are more than 400 animals in over 100 institutions worldwide (Olney and Ellis, 1992; ISIS, 1993). the Duke University Primate Center maintains the largest colony. Two pairs of captive born ruffed lemurs were recently returned to Madagascar from this institution and the San Antonio and San Diego Zoo (Katz, 1991). Based on its low estimated population numbers and the fact that it is a popular target for hunters, Varecia variegata variegata was given a High Priority rating (5) in the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group's Lemurs of Madagascar: An Action Plan for their Conservation (Mittermeierer et al., 1992). Using the latest IUCN Red List criteria, we place this subspecies in the Endangered category. If further research indicates that one or more of the named "subspecies" of the black-and-whie ruffed lemur (e.g., variegata, subcincta, editorum,) are valid, some of these would possibly enter the Critically Endangered category. Source of Information: Mittermeier, R. A., Tattersall, I, Konstant, W. R., Meyers, D. M., Mast, R. B. 1994. Lemurs of Madagascar. Conservation International, Washington, D.C. Eva Sargent 1997. Madagascar Fauna Group Newsletter, San Francisco Zoo. References: Mittermeier, R. A., W. R. Konstant, M. E. Nicoll and O. Langrand 1992. Lemurs of Madagascar: An Action Plan for their Conservation. 1993-1999. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland. Bogart, M.H., R.W. Cooper and K. Benirschke 1977. Reproductive studies of black and ruffed lemurs, Lemur macaco macaco and L. variegatus ssp International Zoo Yearbook 17:177-182. Boskoff, K.J. 1977. Aspects of reproduction in ruffed lemurs (Lemur variegatus. Folia Primatologica 28: 241-250. Constable, I.D., R.A. Mittermeier, J.I. Pollock, J. Ratsirarson and H. Simons 1985. Sightings of aye-ayes and red-ruffed lemurs on Nosy Mangabe and the Masoala Peninsula. Primate Conservation 5: 59-62. Harcourt, C. and J. Thornback. 1990. Lemurs of Madagascar and the Comoros. The IUCN Red Data Book, compiled by C. Harcourt. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K. Hick, U. 1976. The first year in the new lemur house at the Cologne Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 16: 141-145. ISIS, 1993. ISIS Species Distribution Report Abstract for Mammals, 31 December 1993. International Species Inventory System, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA. Jolly, A., R. Albignac and J.-J. Petter 1984. The lemurs. Pp. 183-202 in: Jolly, A., P. Oberle and R. Albignac (eds.), Key Environments: Madagascar. Pergamon Press, Oxford. Klopfer, P.H. and J. Dugard 1976. Patterns of maternal care in lemurs: III: Lemur variegatus. Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie 48: 87-99. Klopfer, P.H. and K.J. Boskoff 1979. Maternal behavior in prosimians. Pp. 123-156 in: G.A Doyle and R.D. Martin (eds.), The Study of Prosimian Behavior. Academic Press, London. Lindsay, N.B.D. and H.J. Simons 1986. Notes on Varecia in the northern limits of its range. Dodo 23:19-24. Morland, H. S. 1990. Parental behavior and infant development in ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in a northeast Madagascar rain forest. American Journal of Primatology, 20:253-265. Morland, H. S. 1991. Preliminary report on the social organization of ruffed lem;urs (Varecia variegata variegata) in a northeast Madagascar rain forest. Folia Primatologica 56: 157-161. Nicoll, M. E. and O. Langrand 1989. Madagascar: Revue de la Conservation et des Aires Protegees. World Wide Fund for Nature, Gland, Switzerland, xvii + 374pp. Olney, P.J.S. and P. Ellis (eds.) 1992. Census of Rare Animals in Captivity 1991. International Zoo Yearbook (Vol. 31). Zoological Society of London, U.K. Petter, J.-J., R. Albignac and Y. Rumpler 1977. Mammiferes: lemuriens (Primates prosimiens). Faune de Madagascar No. 44. ORSTOM-CNRS, Paris. Pollock, J.I. 1979. Spacial distribution and ranging behavior in lemurs. Pp. 359-409 in: G.A. Doyle and R.D. Martin (eds.), The Study of Feeding and Ranging Behavior in Lemurs, Monkeys and Apes. Academic Press, London. Tattersall, I. 1982. The Primates of Madagascar. Columbia University Press, New York. White, F.J. 1989. Diet, ranging behavior and social organization of the black-and-white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata variegata, in southeastern Madagascar. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 78(2):323. Related Web sites: Black and White Ruffed Lemur - fact sheet with vocalizations Conservation International Duke University Primate Center Madagascar Fauna Group Previous Issues of Primate of the Week

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