Head to head
Red Ruffed Lemur vs Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
The red ruffed lemur and the black-and-white ruffed lemur are the only two species in the genus Varecia, sharing the unusual habit of giving birth to litters and parking newborns in a nest, but they differ in coat colour, litter size, and just how restricted their ranges have become.
| Red Ruffed Lemur | Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Varecia rubra | Varecia variegata |
| Coat pattern | Red and black | Black and white |
| Typical litter size | Twins or triplets | Up to six young at once |
| Range | Masoala Peninsula only | Rainforest across parts of eastern Madagascar |
| Diet | Herbivore, mainly fruit | Herbivore, the most frugivorous lemur species |
| Infant care | Parks twins or triplets in a leaf nest | Parks larger litters in a nest |
| Pollination role | May pollinate the traveller's palm | Important pollinator for the traveller's tree |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Critically Endangered |
Red Ruffed Lemur vs Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur: common questions
Are the red ruffed lemur and black-and-white ruffed lemur the same species?
No, they are the two distinct species in the genus Varecia, closely related and sharing several unusual traits, including litter births and nest-parking of newborns, but differing in coat colour and range.
Which ruffed lemur has larger litters?
The black-and-white ruffed lemur, which can give birth to litters of up to six young at once, compared to the red ruffed lemur's typical twins or triplets.
Which ruffed lemur has the smaller range?
The red ruffed lemur, confined entirely to the Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar, a smaller area than the black-and-white ruffed lemur's broader, though still fragmented, range across eastern Madagascar's rainforest.