Ring-tailed lemurs have scent glands on their wrists and chests that they use to mark their foraging routes. Males have a horny spur on each wrist gland that they use to pierce tree branches before scent marking them. They forage mostly for fruit but also eat leaves, nuts, and herbs.
At the Zoo
There are four ring-tailed lemurs at Brookfield Zoo:
Dafodill is a female born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on April 27, 1993. She arrived at the Brookfield Zoo on March 14, 2001.
Marigold is a female born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on April 21, 1992. She arrived at teh Brookfield Zoo on March 14, 2001.
Lily is a female born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on April 16, 1994. She arrived at the Brookfield Zoo on March 14, 2001.
Chloe is a female born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on April 27, 1993. She arrived at the Brookfield Zoo on March 14, 2001.
Description
Ring-tailed lemurs are about the size of a house cat. Their back is gray to rosy brown, their limbs and haunches are gray, and their head and neck are dark gray. Their underside is white, and their face is white with dark triangular eye patches and a black nose. The tail is ringed with 13 alternating black and white bands, giving this lemur its common name.
Status in the Wild
The gallery forests that ring-tailed lemurs prefer are rapidly disappearing as the land is converted to farmland, overgrazed by livestock, and trees are harvested for charcoal production. Ring-tailed lemurs are also hunted for food in certain areas of their range.
Conservation Programs