Black-and-white ruffed lemur

The black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is a threatened species native to the eastern coasts of Madagascar. Including the tail, black-and-white ruffed lemurs are one of the largest of the lemurs in the world, being 4 feet tall and weighing 10 pounds. They can live up to 18 years in captivity. Like all ruffed lemurs, they get their name from the thick fur that surrounds their whole head.

Black-and-white ruffed lemur[1]
BlackandWhiteRuffedLemur CincinnatiZoo.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
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Species:
V. variegata
Binomial name
Varecia variegata
(Kerr, 1792)
Subspecies

V. v. variegata (Kerr, 1792)
V. v. editorum (Osman Hill, 1953)
V. v. subcincta (A. Smith, 1833)

Varecia variegata range map.svg
Varecia variegatta distribution[3]
orange = V. v. subcincta;
green = V. v. variegata;
blue = V. v. editorum
Synonyms

V. v. variegata:

  • vari Muirhead, 1819
  • varius I. Geoffroy, 1851[4]

Diet

Black-and-white ruffed lemurs mainly eat fruits, leaves, seeds and nectar, and insects. In captivity, some zoos will include biscuits to their meals.

Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur Media

References

  1. Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds) (ed.). Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 117. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); |edition= has extra text (help); |editor= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  2. Andrainarivo, C. (2008). Varecia variegata. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 6 Oct 2008. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR A2cd v3.1)
  3. Mittermeier, R.A.; et al. (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar (2nd ed.). Conservation International. pp. 303–320. ISBN 1-881173-88-7.
  4. Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds) (ed.). Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. {{{pages}}}. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); |edition= has extra text (help); |editor= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)