Ring-tailed Lemur

The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a strepsirrhine primate endemic to Madagascar, recognized by its distinctively banded black-and-white tail, which it holds upright while moving through open terrain. It is one of the most terrestrial of all lemur species, spending significant time foraging on the ground across dry deciduous forests, spiny thickets, and rocky scrubland in the island's southern and southwestern regions. As a frugivore and folivore, it disperses seeds across its range and plays a documented role in the regeneration of Madagascar's highly endemic plant communities.

The IUCN Red List classifies the ring-tailed lemur as Endangered, with population estimates suggesting a steep decline over recent decades driven by habitat loss, illegal capture for the exotic pet trade, and hunting for bushmeat. Madagascar has lost more than 90 percent of its original forest cover according to WWF, and the fragmented patches that remain are under continued pressure from slash-and-burn agriculture and charcoal production. Ring-tailed lemurs are also vulnerable to cyclone events and prolonged drought, both of which are increasing in frequency and severity across southern Madagascar.