Black-and-white ruffed lemur - camp site, Ranomafana, Madagascar

Back at the camp site, mid day entertainment was provided by lemur tree wars. Some popular fruit trees were situated directly inside the camp, leading to a turf war between Black-and-white ruffed lemurs and Brown lemurs.

It's a non-scientific observation, but we've seen this species many times, in situations natural and semi-wild. When mixed with other lemur species, the Black-and-white ruffed lemur seems to always be dominant. At the very least it is the loudest.

Have a look at that wonderful tail! The tail can support the full weight of the animal, we've seen it hang upside down.

comments (7)

Christine Young

Lion

Awesome! I wonder if the camp site was chosen because of the fruit trees (so the lemurs could to entertain the campers). Posted 3 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Not sure, definitely possible. As the camp site had so little facilities, it could have been anywhere. The only true selector is access to running water. They just put a pipe in a little stream and lead it to camp. Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Just curious - do they filter or treat or boil the water before you drink it? Posted 3 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      They don't, only locals drink from it whilst we drink bottled water. A local once told me it takes at least 2 years for a foreigner to develop the antibodies to stomach drinking local water.
      
      If bottled water is too much trouble, there's backup solutions to purify water. One is some kind of tablet you drop in the water, next wait 20 minutes. Another is some kind of UV laser light. Posted 3 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        A laser light is intriguing. I've never heard of that. I carry the tablets in my backpack though. When on backpacking trips, I've used tabs alone and they work well, but I prefer to boil water and then use tabs (a bit of overkill to do both, but I don't care). Posted 3 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Perhaps laser is not the right word, just UV light is probably more accurate. Like so:
        http://cdigljn.info/wp-content/uploads//2019//07//ultraviolet-light-water-purification-light-water-purifier-a-simple-guide-to-water-filtration.jpg Posted 3 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Oh, neat! I've never seen one of those. Posted 3 years ago

The Black-and-white ruffed lemur

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities and reproductively isolated. It also has less coverage and protection in large national parks than the red ruffed lemur. Three subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur have been recognized since the red.. more

Info 52 0

Similar species: Primates

Species identified by Ferdy Christant