Ruffed lemur

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TAXONOMY

Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Infraorder: Lemuriformes
Superfamily: Lemuroidea
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Varecia
Species: V. rubra, V. variegata
Subspecies: V. v. editorum, V. v. subcincta, V. v. variegata

Other names: ruffed lemur; lémur vari, maki vari (French); lémur de collar, lémur de gola, lémur de gorguera (Spanish); kraglemur, pandalemur, röd vari, svartvit vari, vari (Swedish); V. variegata: black-and-white ruffed lemur; varikandana, varikandra (Malagasy); V. rubra: red-ruffed lemur; varinena, varikamena (Malagasy).

Conservation status: please search the IUCN Red List.

Life span: 36 years
Total population: 1,000 to 10,000 (V. variegata), 29,000 to 52,000 (V. rubra)
Regions: Madagascar
Gestation: 106 days
Height: 43 to 57 cm (M & F)
Weight: 3.6 kg (M), 3.3 kg (F)

MORPHOLOGY

V. variegata and its subspecies are exclusively black-and-white while V. rubra is predominantly chestnut-red with some black and white as well (Mittermeier et al. 2006). However there is significant pelage variation within the ruffed lemurs and there are intermediates in color between the two species (Mittermeier et al. 2006). In addition, a very abstract pattern of more white and less black in the coloration the further south the population occurs is seen, although only generally (Vasey & Tattersall 2002). The black-and-white ruffed lemur (V. v. variegata) abdomen, tail, hands and feet, inner limbs, forehead, face and crown are black. Pelage is white on the sides, back, hind limbs and on the hindquarters (Mittermeier et al. 2006). V. v. editorum has very similar coloration, except the anterior part of the back which is all black while in V. v. variegata this part of the body has a white band (Mittermeier et al. 2006). V. v. subcincta has black dorsal surfaces with a white “belt” or band around the middle of the body (Groves 2001; Mittermeier et al. 2006). The rest of its body is black except for the outer limbs and base of the tail which is white (Mittermeier et al. 2006). In all species of V. variegata the white fur is sometimes slightly yellowish or even brownish and the black can be slightly grey or brownish (Groves 2001; Vasesy & Tattersall 2002).

Ruffed lemur perched on branch
Varecia

The red-ruffed lemur (V. rubra) is immediately very different looking from all varieties of V. variegata, as most of the dorsal surfaces are deep reddish or chestnut-red in color excepting the white nape of the neck (Groves 2001). V. rubra undersides, extremities, face, top of the head and tail are black (Groves 2001). In all species of ruffed lemur, the characteristically long face is black or mostly black contrasting with long, furry “ruffs” of hair on the ears which are white in V. variegata and deep reddish or chestnut-red in V. rubra. Pelage is typically quite fluffy (Vasey 2003; Mittermeier et al. 2006). No sexual dimorphism is seen between males and females nor are differences in coloration evident between the sexes (Kappeler 1991; Vasey 2003). Females possess three pairs of mammary glands (Tattersall 1982).

The ruffed lemur is the largest living member of the Lemuridae family (Vasey 2003; Mittermeier et al. 2006). Body length ranges from 43 to 57 cm (16.9 to 22.4 in) and the tail is longer than the body, averaging around 60 cm long (23.6 in) (Vasey 2003). Wild female ruffed lemurs range from 2.6 to 4.0 kg (5.7 to 8.8 lb), weighing an average of 3.3 kg (7.3 lb), while males range between 2.8 and 4.1 kg (6.2 and 9.0 lb), averaging 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) (Vasey 2003). With both sexes combined, wild ruffed lemurs average 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) and captive ruffed lemurs average 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) (K. E. Glander & E. Balko, unpublished data cited in Terranova & Coffman 1997; Terranova & Coffman 1997). In captivity, obesity is sometimes a problem with weights in European zoos reaching averages as high as 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) (Schwitzer & Kaumanns 2001).

The ruffed lemur is both terrestrially and arboreally quadrupedal (Pereira et al. 1988; Mittermeier et al. 2006). While walking on the ground, the head is typically pointed towards the ground and the tail is held high. Running is performed in a bounding movement (Pereira et al. 1988). When transitioning between trees, leaping is the most common form of movement and the lemur will look over its shoulder while clinging, push off, and twist in the air so that the ventral surface of the body makes contact with the new tree (Pereira et al. 1988). The most common types of movement are quadrupedalism, leaping, clinging, and suspension followed by low occurrences of bridging, bimanual movement, and bipedalism. Compared to other lemurs, suspensory movement is more common in ruffed lemurs and the most common form of movement is above-branch quadrupedal locomotion (Gebo 1987). Resting postures include hunched sitting and upright postures, as well as prone resting on its belly or sunbathing on its back with limbs outstretched (Morland 1993a).

Individuals of both species of ruffed lemur have lived as long as an estimated 36 years (Weigl 2005).

RANGE

CURRENT RANGE MAPS (IUCN REDLIST):
Varecia rubra | Varecia variegata

In general, ruffed lemurs are found in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar (Mittermeier et al. 2006). Of the two species, the range of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (V. variegata) is far larger, extending in a line down the eastern Malagasay coast from a southern limit around the Mananara River near Vangaindrano to a northern limit somewhat north and west of Maroantsetra, on the Bay of Antongil (Tattersall 1982; Vasey & Tattersall 2002). The northern limit of V. variegata is near the Antainambalana River, ending in a possible zone of hybridization between V. variegata and V. rubra, extending between the Vohimara and Mahalevona Rivers north of the Bay of Antongil (Vasey & Tattersall 2002). The primary range of the red ruffed lemur is the Masoala peninsula east of the Bay of Antongil, extending west to the Antainambalana River where their range meets up with the range of V. variegata (Tattersall 1982; Vasey 2003). To the north of the Masoala peninsula, the range of the red ruffed lemur may extend only to the Cap Est (Tattersall 1982). The northern barrier limiting the distribution of V. rubra is the Lokoho River (Goodman & Ganzhorn 2004). The total wild population of red-ruffed lemurs (V. rubra) is estimated at between 29,000 and 52,000 individuals (Vasey 1997b). The total population of black-and-white ruffed lemurs is probably between 1,000 and 10,000 (Mittermeier et al. 1992).

HABITAT

Ruffed lemurs are limited to the seasonal eastern rainforests of Madagascar and are not particularly flexible when it comes to habitat choice (Vasey 2000a; 2005). Primarily arboreal, ruffed lemurs prefer the crowns of large and taller trees and spend the majority of their time from 15 to 25 m (49.2 to 82.0 ft) above the forest floor (Lindsay & Simons 1986; Vasey 2000a; 2003). Crowns of trees are a primary habitat through all seasons (Vasey 2004). Throughout the ranges of both species of ruffed lemur, seasonal availability of resources is similar. Fruit, flowers, and young leaves are available in the hot seasons with more young leaves and flowers at the end of the cold wet seasons (Vasey 2002; 2006). In the hot rainy season, major branches of trees are favored by both sexes while females prefer lianas in the crowns of trees, a pattern followed by females in the hot dry season as well (Vasey 2002). In the cold season, the use of the crowns of trees is ubiquitous (Vasey 2002).

Ruffed lemur lounging on ropes
Varecia

On the Masoala peninsula, the main habitat of the red-ruffed lemur, there are four seasons, hot and rainy (January-March), transitional cold (April-May), cold rainy (June-August), and hot and dry (October-December) (Vasey 2006). On the peninsula, in the Masoala National Park, average annual rainfall is around 5110.26mm (201.2 in) with temperatures ranging between highs of 22.5 to 31.6 °C (72.5 to 88.9 °F) and lows of 19 to 23.5 °C (66.2 to 74.3 °F) (Vasey 2006). This region experiences heavy rainfall between January and August with over 550mm (21.7in) per month during this period (Vasey 2002). As expected, there is some variability between study sites, with the seasons on Nosy Mangabe, near the Masoala peninsula in the Bay of Antongil, being divided into three seasons; cool-wet (May-August), dry season (September-November) and warm-wet (December-April) (Morland 1993). Rainfall on Nosy Mangabe averages 3709mm (146. 0 in) annually over an average of 250 days of rain with the lowest monthly temperatures averaging 21.0 °C (69.8 °F) in July and August and the highest around 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in February (Morland 1993). Near the southern end of the black-and-white ruffed lemur distribution in the Manombo Classified southeastern lowland rainforest, the habitat is characterized by high rainfall throughout the year with a peak in January through March (Ratsimbazafy 2006). Ruffed lemurs have been sighted at altitudes up to 1353 m (4439 ft) (Lehman et al. 2006).

ECOLOGY

Ruffed lemurs are predominantly frugivorous, in fact the most frugivorous of the lemurs, and will often feed on over 80 and up to 132 plant species (White 1991; Morland 1993; Rigamonti 1993; Vasey 2000b; 2003; 2004; Ratsimbazafy 2006). Feeding time is spent between 74-90% on fruit, 4-21% on nectar, 3-6% on flowers, 1% on mature leaves, and 3-6% on young leaves (Vasey 2003). However, while there is often a large diversity of consumed plant species, typically only several are consumed or utilized as a large proportion of the diet (Rigamonti 1993; Vasey 2000b; Balko & Underwood 2005). Between seasons, the diet exhibits no differences save for females eating more young leaves than males and fewer flowers during the hot dry season (Vasey 2002). When it comes to choice of fruit tree, the availability and accessibility of edible fruit is more important than the species of tree itself (Balko & Underwood 2005). During the hot seasons, the size of food patches is larger than in the cold rainy season, but not as large as during the transitional cold season (Vasey 2002). In addition, significantly less time is spent active in the cool-wet seasons than in the rest of the year (Morland 1993). While pregnant and while lactating, female ruffed lemurs will eat more flowers and young leaves late in the day. These high protein foods offset the high energy cost of reproduction (Vasey 2004). While diets vary at different location, common food plants are Canarium (Burseraceae), Cryptocarya, Ocotea, and Ravensara (Lauraceae), Ficus (Moraceae), Eugenia/Syzygium (Myrtaceae), and Grewia (Tiliaceae) (Vasey 2003). At some locations, ruffed lemurs will descend from trees to consume soil and also occasionally eat fungi (Britt 2000; White 1991).

Annually, ruffed lemurs spend an average of 28% of their time feeding, 53% resting, and 19% traveling with females resting less and feeding more than males. They are least active during the cold seasons. Over the course of the day there is no significant variation in activity budget although there is slightly more rest at midday (Vasey 2005). Time spent feeding over the course of the day is similar throughout the year and ruffed lemurs are found mainly in the crowns of trees all day long (Vasey 2004). In order of preference, ruffed lemurs spend the most time from 15 to 20m (49.2 to 65.6 ft), followed by 20 to 25m (65.6 to 82.0 ft) and finally 10 to 15m (32.8 to 49.2 ft) and they will move lower in the canopy to regulate their body temperature during the hotter seasons (Vasey 2004). In the cool months, 2% of resting time is spent sunbathing, while in the warm months its occurrence is reduced (Morland 1993a).

Ruffed lemur laying in sun on their back
Varecia

Home range can vary widely, ranging from .162 km² (.06 mi²) to a quite large 1.97 km² (.76 mi²) home range with values ranging significantly between (White 1991; Morland 1991a cited in Vasey 2003; Rigamonti 1993; Britt 1997 cited in Vasey 2003; Vasey 1997a; Balko 1998 cited in Vasey 2003; Vasey 2003; 2006). Average female annual home ranges are typically larger than those of the males although during mating and gestation, they become smaller than the home ranges of males (Vasey 1997a; 2006). In other words, female ranging varies by season while male ranging does not (Vasey 1997a). Average daily path is variable also, and varies from 436m to 2250m (1430.4 to 7381.9 ft), in one study averaging 1129m (3704.1 ft) per day (White 1991; Rigamonti 1993).

Raptors are predators of ruffed lemurs, but likely at a low rate, with evidence of predation on ruffed lemurs by Henst’s Goshawk (Accipiter henstii) (Karpanty & Grella 2001; Karpanty 2006). The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) presents a potential but rare threat to ruffed lemurs, but has not been confirmed to prey upon wild individuals (White 1991; Britt et al. 2001). However, this is likely due to the wild ruffed lemur remaining high in the forest strata the majority of the time. Released captive-bred ruffed lemurs have been preyed upon by fossa as a result of their inexperience with predators (Britt et al. 2001). Because ruffed lemurs nest with young, this makes them potentially susceptible to predation from carnivorous mammals, such as the ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans) and the brown-tailed mongoose (Salanoia concolor) (Vasey 1997a).

Ruffed lemurs can found living in sympatry with a number of other primate species including the greater dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus major), grey gentle lemur (Hapalemur griseus griseus), sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus), diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus), red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), eastern avahi (Avahi laniger), indri (Indri indri), rufous mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) and probably the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) (Vasey 1997a; Lehman et al. 2006). Ruffed lemurs probably demonstrate feeding dominance over red-bellied lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer) (Evans et al. 1993-1994). In addition, sympatric grey bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur griseus griseus) avoid ruffed lemurs when they encounter them (Evans et al. 1993-1994). Infant ruffed lemurs have even been observed to play with white-fronted lemurs (E. fulvus albifrons) (Vasey 2007).

Content last modified: August 17, 2007

Written by Kurt Gron.

Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2007 August 17. Primate Factsheets: Ruffed lemur (Varecia) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ruffed_lemur/taxon>. Accessed 2020 July 10.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND BEHAVIOR

Ruffed lemur social organization is marked by significant variation in both group organization as well as group composition. This has been suggested to be the result of the social system being adaptable to allow for an inability of the species to change its feeding ecology (Vasey 2003). Some of the variation in past studies of ruffed lemur social organization might be attributed to the short-term or seasonal nature of field studies not adequately covering yearlong patterns of social behavior (Vasey 2003). Ruffed lemurs are organized into dispersed social networks which include core groups organized within a core community. Even though the core community lives within a discrete community home range, the entire community is never seen together in the same location at the same time (Morland 1991a; Rigamonti 1993; Vasey 1997a; 2006). The structure of the core group is variable but often consists of two reproductive females in addition to males and subadults, and can range from a pair of individuals up to 9 (Vasey 1997a). Rare interactions between group males are typically agonistic (Morland 1991b).

Ruffed lemur
Varecia

Perhaps the ruffed lemur social structure is best described as multi-male/multi-female fission-fusion social organization (Vasey 1997a; 2006). Such communities are dispersed core social groups that interact with other core groups in the community, however interaction between different core social groups is curtailed during the cold rainy season, the period of gestation and mating (Rigamonti 1993; Vasey 1997a; 2006). During this period of the year, small subgroups are formed and range over small areas within the communal home range (Morland 1991b). Often, these subgroups consist of a male, female, and their offspring or even just an adult male and adult female and might be misconstrued as monogamous (Morland 1991b; White 1989). In captivity, the relationships between mothers and their adult female offspring are not stable throughout the year, with affiliative behavior seen between the two during the birth season but not the mating season (White et al. 1992). The fission-fusion nature of the social organization is manifested on two levels, the yearlong daily changes in subgroups and the seasonal dispersal of core groups into core areas (Vasey 2006).

Even though ruffed lemur communities are not cohesive units, the home range is communally defended. In addition, there is some evidence that only females participate in communal home range defense against females from other groups, which includes agonistic behaviors including chasing, scent-marking, calling, and sometimes physical contact with members of neighboring communities (Morland 1991a; 1991b; Vasey 1997a; 2006). Territorial disputes occur most often during the hot months when resources are more readily available and happen at the boundaries between communal home ranges (Morland 1991b; Vasey 2006). During such disputes, males will scent-mark but will not chase, remain uninvolved and are relatively silent (Morland 1991b; Vasey 2006). Group size is very variable, with cohesive groups ranging from a pair to 31 individuals (White 1991; Morland 1991a; Rigamonti 1993; Vasey 1997a; 2003; 2006).

In captive and free-ranging ruffed lemurs, females are almost always dominant to males, winning almost all agonistic encounters with them and rarely showing submissive behavior towards a male (Kaufman 1991; Raps & White 1995; Meyer et al. 1999). In the wild, the nature of female group dominance is more ambiguous. While it is possible for females to be dominant, wild groups cannot be described definitively so, as there is some inter-group variation in dominance patterns (Overdorff et al. 2005).

In the wild, common aggressive behaviors include attacks, cuffs, grapples, and chases while in captivity the aggressive repertoire includes the stare, charge, chase, lunge, cuff, feint-to-cuff, bipedal hop, pounce on, push down, and bite (Pereira et al. 1988; Overdorff et al. 2005). In the wild, chatter vocalizations are used to signal submission (Overdorff et al. 2005). Captive animals also chatter to show submission in addition to displacement, head turning/eye aversion, cowering/flinching, grimacing, backing away, fleeing, and jumping away (Pereira et al. 1988). In the wild, affiliative behaviors include the greeting behavior performed by females in which their bodies are intertwined. In addition, other wild affiliative behaviors include playing and social grooming. Often, affiliative behaviors are highly seasonal and some are only performed by one sex, such as the male behaviors of the squeal approach and anogenital inspections, which only occur during the mating season (Morland 1991a). In captivity, affinitive social behaviors include group movement, huddling together with bodily contact, greeting by sniffing and social grooming, an activity performed by all group lemurs over 5 months of age (Pereira et al. 1988). In captivity, all group members will play, but subadults participate more often than adults. Play can include wrestling, grappling, chasing, fleeing and solitary play (Pereira et al. 1988).

REPRODUCTION

Ruffed lemur perched on branch
Varecia

Wild ruffed lemurs exhibit a seasonal polygamous mating system contrary to initial reports of monogamy in the species (Vasey 2007). In the wild, mating occurs with community members as well as with members from other communities. In addition, a single male or female will often mate with more than one partner in a single mating season and within a community, multiple males and females actively mate (Morland 1993b; Vasey 2007). Near the northern limit of the ruffed lemur range, mating occurs in the cold rainy season, between May and July (Morland 1993b; Vasey 2007). As expected in a species with a specific mating season, births are also seasonal. In the wild on the Masoala peninsula, births occur during the hot dry season during November and are highly synchronized (Vasey 1997a). In captivity, discrete mating and birth seasons are also observed (Brockman et al. 1987).

ust prior to and during estrus, both wild and captive females exhibit swelling of the sex skin, peaking around the middle of estrus (Bogart et al. 1977; Brockman et al. 1987; Vasey 2007). Estrous cycles average 14.8 days in captivity (Brockman et al. 1987). Male testicular volume also increases as the mating season nears, peaking prior to or at the time of breeding (Bogart et al. 1977; Foerg 1982; Brockman et al. 1987). Aggression among ruffed lemurs of the same sex increases as well during the mating season (Morland 1993b).

Before copulation, the male will perform a display which includes moving toward the female while lowering his head and squealing, roar-shrieking with the female, licking or sniffing the female’s genitals, submissively chattering, mounting and scent-marking. Females also perform displays that include roar-shrieking with the male, hitting, biting, and posturing of her body for mounting (Vasey 2007). The male mounts the female by grasping her hind limbs or a branch with his hind limbs and grasping her torso and thrusting. Aggressive behavior by the female is often directed towards the male who is attempting to mate with her and a mating pair will often copulate a number of times in a bout of mating (Foerg 1982; Morland 1993b).

In captivity, gestation averages around 102 days and in the wild, is slightly longer, at 106 days with an inter-birth interval of one year (Bogart et al. 1977; Foerg 1982; Rasmussen 1985; Brockman et al. 1987; Vasey 2007). Reproductive maturity in captivity is reached in both sexes around 18-20 months of age, during the second post-natal breeding season (Foerg 1982; Porton 1989). In the wild, reproductive maturity is reached later, with females only coming into estrus at 3 years old and males showing no signs of reproductive maturity until at least 5 years old (Morland 1991a). Reproductive activity in captivity for females can last into the 23rd year of life (Weigler et al. 1994).

PARENTAL CARE

In both the wild and captivity, ruffed lemur births are usually multiple, averaging around two infants per birth in captivity (Boskoff 1977; Morland 1990; Weigler et al. 1994; Vasey 2007). However, numbers of infants can range from one per birth up to five (Weigler et al. 1994; Greeley 1982; Pollock 1986). Birth weight in captivity ranges from 70 to 140 g (.15 to .31 lb), averaging between 83.0 to 101.7g (.18 to .22 lb) (Boskoff 1977; Brockman et al. 1987). At birth, newborns are covered with fur and their eyes are open (Foerg 1982). Before giving birth, a ruffed lemur mother will construct an arboreal nest within her core area, normally between 10 to 25m (32.8 to 82.0 ft) above the ground, out of branches, leaves and other foliage (Morland 1990; Vasey 1997a; 2007). Such nests are shallow and dish-shaped with only one apparent entry point (Vasey 2007). In captivity, for the first two weeks of life, mothers spend between 70% and 90% of their time in their nests with the newborns (Pereira et al. 1987).

Ruffedd lemur infant exploring
Varecia

In the wild, the infant remains in the nest until about one to three weeks of life, at which point the mother moves them out for the first time and “stashes” them while she performs other activities (Pereira et al. 1987; Morland 1990; Vasey 2007). Infant “stashing” involves placing the infant or infants in concealing foliage in the canopy and leaving them there for up to several hours at a time while she forages elsewhere, sometimes out of earshot (Morland 1990; Vasey 2007; see Vasey 1997a:42-3 for discussion of the term “stashing”). Transport of infants by the mother occurs singly, with the mother grasping the infant’s belly crosswise in her mouth and continues until they are too big to carry, at around 2.5 months old (Morland 1990; Downman 1993; Vasey 2007). While “stashed,” infants will rest, sit still, and not vocalize (Pereira et al. 1987; Vasey 2007).

Often, while the mother is away from her offspring, other group members will guard them in addition to emitting alarm calls when sensing danger, responding to the alarm calls of others and providing care for the infants. Males provide a lot of infant care as well; guarding, huddling, grooming and playing with the offspring of up to several different mothers (Vasey 2007). In captivity, females related to a mother have been observed nursing her offspring and close kin have served as foster parents for infants rejected by their mother (Pereira et al. 1987; Kerridge 1999). Indeed, alloparenting is widespread in wild ruffed lemur populations, with all members of the community participating in the raising of offspring (Vasey 2007). In the wild and in captivity, community members take part in “coordinated vigilance displays” in which a community member guarding or near to an infant will alarm call if leaving the infant alone or encountering a predator. Upon hearing the alarm call, other community members will alarm call as well, resulting in the communal transmission of the alarm call throughout the forest and potentially summoning the mother back to her “stashed” offspring (Pereira et al. 1987; Vasey 2007).

At one month of age, wild infants will begin climbing and clinging. By two to three months old, the infants will start following their mother and group members for up to 50 to 100m (164.0 to 328.1 ft) and adult mobility and behavior including traveling full-time with adults is attained at 3-4 months old (Morland 1990; Vasey 2007). In captivity, 75-80% of play in the first three months of life is with the mother (Downman 1993). By 10 weeks old, infants begin participating in greeting displays and calling begins at about 16 weeks old (Vasey 2007). Scent marking commences at six months old (Vasey 2007). Also, at around 4 months old in captivity, the infant weighs about 70% of the weight of the adults (Pereira et al. 1987). The wild infant will first sample, but not necessarily ingest, solid foods at around two months old. Wild weaning is estimated to occur at around 4 months of age but some individuals have nursed as late as 7-8 months old (Morland 1990; Vasey 2007).

Infant mortality in the wild shows great variance, and can range from a quite high 64%, possibly due to falls from arboreal nests, to zero mortality over a birth season (Morland 1990; Vasey 2007).

COMMUNICATION

Wild ruffed lemurs are extremely noisy and can be heard from about a kilometer away (Morland 1991a). Captive ruffed lemurs have three rough classes of vocalizations, high-, medium- and low-amplitude calls. High-amplitude calls include the contagious “roar/shriek chorus” which probably functions in inter-group spacing and communication as well as social functions and is communally participated in by all wild group members including 3-4 month old infants (Pereira et al. 1988; Morland 1991a; Geissmann & Mutschler 2006). “Roar/shriek choruses” can occur throughout the day but are concentrated during periods of high activity (Morland 1991a; Geissmann & Mutschler 2006). Other calls of this time are “abrupt roars” which might function to alert group members to avian predators, to communicate between group members out of visual contact and also probably to communicate a more general aggressive/defensive response to a disturbance, and “pulsed squawks” which primarily alerts group members to mammalian predators, shows high arousal and is a signal for the group to quickly aggregate (Pereira et al. 1988; Macedonia 1990; Morland 1991a). In the wild, “roar/shriek choruses” and “abrupt roars” are emitted more often during the hot seasons than during the rest of the year (Morland 1991a). Other high-amplitude calls are the “wail,” which functions to bring the group back together or signal all-clear, and the “bray” and “quack,” which serve possible mating functions as a male display (Pereira et al. 1988; Morland 1991a). Loud calls are delivered with the lemur’s body in a “taut” posture (Vasey 2003).

Ruffed lemur vocalizing
Varecia

Moderate-amplitude calls are the “growl” which alerts the group to a mild disturbance or to the approach of an individual, the “growl-snort” which alerts the group, “chatter” which signals subordinate status, and the “whine” which signals appeasement by males in the mating season or submission (Pereira et al. 1988; Morland 1991a). Low-amplitude calls are the “grunt,” signaling mild annoyance, the “huff,” signaling intense aggravation, especially when avian predators are present, and the “mew,” often exchanged between mother and offspring when separated or during adults during travel (Pereira et al. 1988; Morland 1991a). Other wild vocalizations are the “cough,” which signals aggression between a female and a male during mating and birth seasons, the “grumble” which advertises the presence of a male to another, the “squeak” which infants use to signal distress, and the “squeal” of affiliation between females (Morland 1991a).

In the wild and in captivity, scent-marking is also an important means of communication to the ruffed lemur and likely communicates information about sex, location and identity (Morland 1991a). Female ruffed lemurs predominantly use their ano-genital scent glands to mark while males use chest, neck, and mandible glands (Pereira et al. 1988; Vasey 2003). Females mark by squatting and rubbing their ano-genital region over a horizontal surface excepting the ground. Males mark by rubbing their chest, chin, and neck on a horizontal or vertical surface including the ground. Both sexes occasionally mark in the characteristic fashion of the opposite sex (Pereira et al. 1988; Morland 1991a). Scent-marking also plays a role in greeting displays, in which individuals “leapfrog” over one another and scent-mark the back of the other individual (Vasey 2007).

Content last modified: August 17, 2007

Written by Kurt Gron.

Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2007 August 17. Primate Factsheets: Ruffed lemur (Varecia) Behavior . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ruffed_lemur/behav>. Accessed 2020 July 10.

INTERNATIONAL STATUS

For individual primate species conservation status, please search the IUCN Red List.
Also search the current scientific literature for primate conservation status (overall as well as for individual species), and visit CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

Conservation information last updated in 2007 follows, for comparison:

CONSERVATION THREATS

Threat: Human-Induced Habitat Loss and Degradation

Ruffed lemur perched on log
Varecia

As with other primates, habitat loss through deforestation is a significant threat to the ruffed lemur. In fact, lemurs are in more grave danger of becoming extinct than most other primates and are most threatened by habitat destruction and hunting (Ganzhorn et al. 1996/1997). Deforestation on Madagascar is undertaken to support subsistence agriculture, cash crops and provide firewood and is especially damaging in river valleys and on the coast (Simons & Lindsay 1987). On the Masoala peninsula, the only habitat of V. rubra, slash and burn agriculture (tavy) is practiced seasonally between October and December and is expanding (Vasey 1996). Also, in some cases, cattle allowed to free-range over former agricultural clearings prevent the re-growth of forest (Evans et al. 1993-1994). However, ruffed lemurs are present in and can survive in very disturbed habitats, albeit probably at far lower densities that in natural habitats (Simons & Lindsay 1987).

Selective logging for certain sizes and species of trees affects ruffed lemurs differently than other lemur species because of their reliance on larger trees and the fruits of certain hardwoods. Several species of tree preferred for construction materials are also preferred by ruffed lemurs, so even if a forest is only selectively logged for such materials, the species is still affected. Forest exploitation which does not completely destroy the habitat can also potentially affect ruffed lemur travel routes through the canopy (White et al. 1995).

Threat: Harvesting (hunting/gathering)

Trapping and hunting with traditional weapons of ruffed lemurs occurs as a source of subsistence for local inhabitants (Simons & Lindsay 1987; Evans et al. 1993-1994). Two types of hunting threaten the ruffed lemurs of the Masoala peninsula; using traditional traps across cut swaths of forest (laly) and using firearms (Vasey 1996). The hunting season in this region is between May and September and local attitudes show that while hunting is recognized as illegal, laws are generally not enforced and the local inhabitants are not ashamed about their use of the lemurs (Vasey 1996). Hunting is probably the greatest threat to the lemurs of the Masoala peninsula because while logging and slash and burn agriculture conceivably could be curtailed, hunting would continue (Vasey 1996). Also, even in regions where hunting of lemurs has stopped, hunters pursuing other quarry sometimes adversely affect ruffed lemurs by inadvertently chasing them from favorite food sources. Finally, ruffed lemurs are sometimes also taken alive from their natural habitats as pets or tourist curiosities (Ratsimbazafy 2002).

Threat: Natural Disasters

Tropical cyclones can have a severe impact on ruffed lemurs. In one case, a cyclone destroyed 80% of the forest canopy in a ruffed lemur habitat, severely impacting the large trees the species relies on for food and other aspects of its ecology (Ratsimbazafy 2002). In the ensuing several years, the ruffed lemurs broadened their diet to stave off starvation but remained surprisingly frugivorous. Because of a reduction in body weight resulting from the destruction of food sources, no births were reported for four years among the ruffed lemurs affected by the cyclone (Ratsimbazafy 2002). Thus, tropical storms can represent a significant threat to an already stressed species. It is suggested however that the high reproductive capacity and litter size of the ruffed lemur might be an adaptation to counter such natural occurrences (Ratsimbazafy 2002).

SPECIAL NOTES

Starting in 1997 a captive-bred reintroduction program was started to reinforce a population of black-and-white ruffed lemurs at Betampona natural reserve in eastern Madagascar (Britt et al. 1988). To date, the program has met with some success, including the successful integration of a male individual into a wild group (Britt et al. 2000). In addition, an introduced male and female have both successfully bred with wild individuals (Britt et al. 2003).

LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION

CONSERVATION INFORMATION

CONSERVATION NEWS

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN Varecia CONSERVATION

Content last modified: August 17, 2007

Written by Kurt Gron.

Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2007 August 17. Primate Factsheets: Ruffed lemur (Varecia) Conservation . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ruffed_lemur/cons>. Accessed 2020 July 10.

The following references were used in the writing of this factsheet. To find current references for Varecia, search PrimateLit.

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Ruffed lemur artwork
Varecia

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Content last modified: August 17, 2007

IMAGES

Varecia rubra
Photo: Bertrand L. Deputte
Varecia rubra
Photo: Pavel Vlcek
Varecia rubra
Photo: Primates in Art & Illustration Collection
Varecia rubra
Photo: Richard Frazier
Varecia rubra
Photo: Rick Murphy

Varecia variegata
Photo: Jennifer Simonson
Varecia variegata
Photo: Jennifer Simonson
Varecia variegata
Photo: Kevin Schafer
Varecia variegata
Photo: Kevin Schafer
Varecia variegata
Photo: Kevin Schafer
Varecia variegata
Photo: Kevin Schafer
Varecia variegata
Photo: M.D. Stuart
Varecia variegata
Photo: Pavel Vlcek
Varecia variegata
Photo: Pavel Vlcek
Varecia variegata
Photo: Pavel Vlcek
Varecia variegata
Photo: Pavel Vlcek
Varecia variegata
Photo: T. Keith-Lucas
Varecia variegata
Photo: T. Keith-Lucas
Varecia variegata
Photo: T. Keith-Lucas

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