Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) Fact Sheet: Physical Characteristics

Body shape (from Mittermeier et al. 2010)

• Large bodied
  • Relative to many other lemurs
• Tail long
  • Longer than head and body
  • Not prehensile
  • See Pelage section, below
• Limbs and feet
  • Feet
    • Soles black
• Rump and genitals
  • Black skin exposed on genitalia
  • Brownish patch on the buttocks

Facial chatacteristics (from Mittermeier et al. 2010)

• Ears
  • Rather prominent
• Eyes
  • Amber; brownish
  • Forward facing
  • Circled by black, triangular rings
    • "Raccoon-like" face mask
• Muzzle
  • Slender
  • Grayish; covered with sparse hairs
• Nose
  • Black
  • Naked

Sexual dimorphism

• Sexes similar
  • Males and females indistinguishable by weight
  • Minor differences
    • Male
      • Head, upper arms, and shoulders slightly larger than female
      • Feet and upper canines longer
      • Large, hairless, black scrotum highly visible
    • Female
      • 2 pairs of mammae, only one pair becomes functional

Overal grayish-brown appearance

• Dense coat
• White on the forehead, cheeks, ears, and throat
• Ears are slightly tufted
• Some individuals lack tufts

Tail ringed

• Black and white alternating bands
  
• Band numbers
• 13-14 black
• 12-13 white bands
• Tip black

Regional variation

• "Typical" or low elevation group
• Light gray on rump and limbs
• Darker gray on neck and crown
• Brownish back
• Underparts white and sparsely furred
• High elevation population
• Darker reddish brown overall
• Dark gray-brown on limbs
• Fewer tail rings
• Denser fur
• May be different subspecies

Poor vision

• Does not rely heavily on visual input
• Moving objects command attention
• A motionless observer can escape detection until the lemurs are within a few meters
• Color vision
  
• Trichromic
  
• Possesses a tapedum
• Unlike most other diurnal primates

Antebrachial (Carpal) Gland

• Located on the inner forearm
• Near the wrist
• Present in both males and females, though appearance differs
• Males
• Bare skin
• Continues distally to the palm
• Measures about 1.5-2.0 cm.
• Horny epidermal spur
• Female
• Bare skin
• Fur line extends from gland to the palm; unlike the bare skin tract of males
• Area c. half the size that of the male
• Lack epidermal spur

Brachial Gland

• Location
• A glandular opening located high on chest
• Internal side of upper arm near shoulder
• Resembles a black nipple
• Most developed in males
• Diameter c.  2 cm
• Use in marking
• Often used to mark objects or lemur's own tail

Other glands

• Glandular development in perianal region
• Present in both sexes
• Furred

Brachial and genital secretion longevity

• Remain chemically active for several days

Though eye-sight is relatively poor, the ring-tailed lemur has an excellent sense of smell. Scent-marking is an important means of communication used to demarcate territory.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Large pads on a lemur's fingers and toes provide extra traction, helping the animal stick when it jumps onto a tree trunk or branch.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

A lemur's rudder-like tail is longer than its body and is used for balance while leaping through trees.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Groves (2001)
Mittermeier et al. (2010)
Sauther et al. (2001)
Tattersall (1982)