Mammals
Red Ruffed Lemur
Varecia rubra · also called red ruffed lemurs
A roaring call echoes across the rainforest canopy, loud enough to carry over a kilometre, announcing the presence of a red ruffed lemur, a fiery-coated primate confined to one small corner of northeastern Madagascar.
Overview
The red ruffed lemur, Varecia rubra, is an Endangered primate found only in rainforest on the Masoala Peninsula of northeastern Madagascar. Its loud roaring calls, unusual habit of giving birth to litters, and likely role in pollinating the traveller’s palm make it one of the more distinctive members of Madagascar’s lemur fauna.
A litter, not a single baby
Most primates give birth to one offspring at a time, but the red ruffed lemur typically has twins or triplets, built a leaf nest high in the canopy to park them safely while she forages, an unusual strategy among primates generally.
Status
Endangered, with a declining population confined to a small and shrinking area of rainforest on the Masoala Peninsula, threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
Red Ruffed Lemur: common questions
How loud is the red ruffed lemur's call?
Extremely loud for an animal its size; its roaring contact call carries over a kilometre through dense rainforest, among the loudest vocalisations of any primate.
Why does the red ruffed lemur give birth to multiple babies at once?
Unlike most primates, which typically have a single offspring, ruffed lemurs give birth to litters of twins or triplets, and build a leaf nest in the canopy to park the newborns safely while the mother forages.
Does the red ruffed lemur help pollinate plants?
It may; while feeding on the nectar of traveller's palm flowers, pollen brushes onto its face and fur, which it can then carry to other flowers.
Where is the red ruffed lemur found?
It is found only on the Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar, a relatively small and shrinking area of rainforest.