Red Ruffed Lemur
Varecia variegata variegata
Photo: Duke University Primate Center
Red Ruffed Lemur Facts
Source: Lemurs of Madagascar, pp. 213-214
(with permission from Conservation International)
Photo: Duke University Primate Center
Red Ruffed Lemur Facts
Source: Lemurs of Madagascar, pp. 213-214
(with permission from Conservation International)
Identification
The red ruffed lemur is similar in size to Varecia variegata variegata. Its head and body length is about 53 cm, the tail length about 60 cm, for a total length of about 110-120 cm. Body weight is just under 4 kg. Most of the dorsal body coat is deep rusty red. There is a white patch on the neck and small patches of white may appear on the heels, digits and muzzle. The ventrum, extremities, tail, inside of limbs forehead, and crown (excluding ears) are black. Variation in these characters may exist, and should be noted and reported when observed in the field.
. As with the black-and-white ruffed lemur, the red ruffed lemur is difficult to confuse with any other lemur. It occurs sympatrically with Eulemur fulvus albifrons, but is larger, has the distinctive raucous vocalization and the characteristic ear tufts. Also E. f. albifrons males have a striking white face, which immediately distinguishes them from V. variegata rubra.
Geographic Range
This subspecies is restricted to the forests of the Masoala Peninsula near Maroantsetra in northeastern Madagascar (Petter et al., 1977; Petter and Petter-Rousseaux, 1979; Tattersall, 1977a, 1982). The northerrn and western limits of its range remain unverified; red ruffed lemurs have been seen just east of the Antainambalana River, which divides this subspecies from the black-and white ruffed lemur (Petter et al., 1877; Tattersall, 1982; D. Meyers, pers. obs.). Simons and Lindsay (1987) report that it now occurs at low densities or is locally extinct in heavily disturbed parts of its range.
Natural HistoryLittle is known of this subspecies as it has only recently been studied in the wild, but its ecology and social behavior appear to be similar to the black-and-white ruffed lemur.
Conservation Status
Unfortunately, the only protected area in the range of the red ruffed lemur, the former Maoala Nature Reserve, was degazetted in 1964 to permit logging. Deforestation of this region continues, and hunting and trapping of red ruffed lemurs for food is common throughout this animal's small range (Tattersall, 1977a; Constable et al, 1985; Simons and Lindsay, 1987). There are no population figures available, but a reasonable order of magnitude estimate would be 1,00-10,000 (Mittermeier et al., 1992). Efforts are underway to reestablish a protected area on the Masoala Peninsula, but they are far from complete.
Varecia variegata rubra has bred with some success in captivity. About 300 animals are held by more than 70 institutions worldwide (Olney and Ellis, 1992; ISIS, 1993).
The Hightest Priority, rating (6) was given to the red ruffed lemur in the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group's Lemurs of Madagascar: An Action Plan for their Conservation (Mittermeier et al., 1992). Using the latest IUCN Red List criteria, we place this subspecies in the Critically Endangered category.
Photos Credits:
All photos are courtesy of the Duke University Primate Center.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.
References:
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.
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.
Lindsay, N.B.D. and H.J. Simons 1986. Notes on Varecia in the northern limits of its range. Dodo 23:19-24.
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.
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.
Petter, J.-J. and A. Petter-Rousseaux, 1979. Classification of the prosimians. Pp. 359-409 in: G.A. Doyle and R.D. Martin (eds.), The Study of Prosimian Behavior. Academic Press, London.
Simons, H.J. and N.B.D. Lindsay 1987. Survey work on ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) and other primates in the northeastern rain forests of Madagascar. Primate Conservation 8: 88-91.
Tattersall, I. 1977. Distribution of the Malagasy lemurs, Part 1: The lemurs of northern Madagascar. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 293: 160-169.
Tattersall, I. 1982. The Primates of Madagascar. Columbia University Press, New York.
Related Web sites:
Conservation International Duke University Primate Center Prosimian Picture Gallery Godric's Lemur Gallery Living Lemurs Madagascar Fauna Group
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