Red-ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra) Fact Sheet: Physical Characteristics

Body measurements from Vasey 2003; taken from 3 representative individuals

Body shape (from Mittermeier et al. 2010 unless otherwise noted)

• Large bodied
• Largest extant member of the family Lemuridae
  
• Tail long
  • Slightly longer than head and body
  • Lavishly furred (Vasey 2003)

Facial characteristics (from Hill 1953)

• Face
  • Black
  • Ring of ruffed hair surrounds the face
    • Extends from the ears down the sides of the head and onto the throat
• Muzzle
  • Elongate and gradually sloping
• Nose
  • Black
• Eyes
  • Forward-facing
• Ears
  • Somewhat triangular in shape; rounded at the apex
  • Hidden in ruffs of hair

Adult pelage (from Mittermeier et al. 2010)

• Overall appearance
  • Back and outer limbs (dorsal surface) deep, chestnut-red
    • More red-orange or honey-blonde in some
  • Belly and inner limbs (ventral surface) black
  • Tail, feet, face, muzzle and top of head black
  • Ear tuft colored as the back; reddish
  • Back of neck with a bright white patch
• Variation in color
  • Small, lighter-colored patches on the heels, digits, and muzzle in some

Sexes alike (from Vasey 2003)

• Similar in size and coloration

Adaptations

• “Toothcomb” (from Cuozzo and Yamashita 2006)
  • Tall, slender incisors separated with narrow gaps
    • Project forward and slightly upward
  • Aids in grooming

The red-ruffed lemur has a long tail. ZOOM Erlebniswelt, Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Image credit: Matthias Appel at Flickr. Public domain.

The red-ruffed lemur has a distinctive bright white patch on the back of the neck. Artis Royal Zoo, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Image credit: © Kitty Terwolbeck from Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Cuozzo and Yamashita (2006)
Hill (1953)
Mittermeier et al. (2010)
Vasey (2003)