Black & White Ruffed Lemur

Class:  Mammalia

Order:  Primates

Family:  Lemuridae

Though lemurs are primates, they are considered prosimians, meaning they have changed little in millions of year.  They are a very “old” primate species.  Scientists speculate that this is due to their isolation on the island of Madagascar after it split off from mainland Australia.  They are tree dwellers that inhabit the wet evergreen forests and feed on blossoms, leaves, and fruits that grow in the rain forest canopy.  In captivity, they enjoy peaches, cantaloupe, grapes and bananas.  They have thick black and white fur coats, large staring eyes, a fox-like muzzle and a long bushy tail.

Because they are primates, they have human-like fingers and opposable thumbs.  They can give birth to up to 5 young and do not carry their infants on their backs like other primates but rather build a nest where the mother stays with the young for up to 2 weeks.

Scientists suspect there are only about 200 ruffed lemurs left in the wild and are endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting.