Ring-Tailed Lemur
Lemur catta
-There are upwards of 40 species of lemurs, all of which are endangered on the island of Madagascar due to habitat loss (deforestation) and hunting
-The distinctive black and white striped tails of these primates are not prehensile (meaning they are not used for swinging or grabbing objects)
-The strong hands and legs are used, rather, for jumping and climbing with great speed
-Diets consist of fruits, leaves, flowers, and barks
-These are social animals that live in groups with an alpha male and dominant females
-Found exclusively on the African island of Madagascar
-Mating Season: begins in mid-April
-Offspring: 1-2 born in late summer
HERE AT ALAMEDA:
The lemurs you see are named ‘Ziptie’ and ‘Luna and Mia’. These 3 are 1 male lemur and 2 females that really enjoy bananas and mulberry leaves and fruit. You can often find them sunbathing in what looks like a meditation pose. The 2 females were rescued due to their threatened status.