Fact Sheet
Black and white ruffed lemurs relaxing in the forest. Click image for larger version.
Order: Primates; Suborder: Prosimii
Family: Lemuridae; Genus: Varecia
Species: variegate; Subspecies : variegata
Related Species
The red ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata rubra) is very similar in life history and behavior but is reddish-brown in color and occupies a slightly different habitat.
Key Facts
Adult Size : 7.3 - 8.4 pounds
Social life : Sociable, group sizes of 8 - 16 animals
Habitat : eastern lowland rainforest
Diet : entirely vegetarian, mainly fruit with supplemental leaves, nectar and seeds
Lifespan : 15 - 20 years in the wild
Sexual maturity : 2 years
Mating : Extremely seasonal, May - July
Gestation : 102 days
Number of young : up to 6, most common litter size is 3
DLC Naming theme : celestial bodies (Hale, Bopp, Babel, etc.)
Malagasy names : Vari, Varikandana, Varikandra
Interesting Facts
- Ruffed lemurs are the only primates to have true litters of offspring.
- Black and white ruffed lemurs can interbreed with red ruffed lemurs -- the offspring are black, white, and red.
- Ruffed lemurs produce group alarm calls when startled. It only takes one individual to begin a chorus that spreads to all ruffed lemurs within hearing range.
- Red ruffed lemurs will often "join-in" the alarm calls of black and white ruffed lemurs even though the subspecies are not often found together in the wild.
- Black and White Ruffed lemurs have the most frugivorous diet of any lemur.