The gaze of the ring-tailed lemur by Stephan Scheffer

The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a relatively large lemur and the only species in the genus Lemur, although the vari (Varecia) and true lemurs (Eulemur) were also long classified within this genus. The ring-tailed lemur is kept in many zoos. Its scientific name was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of *Systema Naturae*.

The coat is grey-brown in colour. The head, underside, hands and the inner sides of the limbs are white. The head, the area around the eyes and the muzzle are black. This facial marking emphasises the facial expressions. The long, bushy tail has fourteen white rings, alternating with black rings. The eyes are golden-yellow in colour. The skin is black. Males differ from females in having a shorter muzzle and broader shoulders.

The hind legs are longer than the front legs. The feet are also long. Both hands and feet have five fingers and toes. The thumb is opposable, and all fingers and toes, with the exception of the second toe, have nails. The second toe has a ‘comb claw’. The ring-tailed lemur uses this comb claw to remove lice, both from itself and from other lemurs.

The ring-tailed lemur weighs an average of two kilograms. It grows to a length of 39 to 46 centimetres. Its tail is just as long as the rest of its body.

Ring-tailed lemurs live exclusively in the tropical and dry xerophytic forests of southern and south-western Madagascar. Here, plants adapted to the dry conditions grow, such as succulents and trees with thick trunks.
They feed in the morning and at midday and are primarily fruit-eaters. They feed on the fruits, berries, leaves, flowers, bark and sap of 24 to 30 different plant species, mainly trees, shrubs and small bushes.