Overview
Ring-tailed Lemur appears on the Exotic Wildlife Association species list as Lemur, Lemur (Ringtail) — ESA: Endangered; CITES: Appendix I. [1]
Native range
Ring-tailed lemurs are found only in southern and southwestern Madagascar. They prefer gallery forests, forests near and following the riverbanks, but can be found in dry scrub, montane humid forests, and deciduous forests. [2]
Size
Average 2.2 kg (ADW range). [2]
Lifespan
33 years (wild, range); 27 years (wild, average); 33 years (captivity, range). [2]
Breeding & gestation
Gestation 130–144 days; offspring per birth: 1–2; females mature at 595 days. [2]
Temperament & social structure
Not verified from a primary source for this page.
Habitat needs
Ring-tailed lemurs are found in three distinct habitats in south and southwestern Madagascar: continuous canopy forest, brush and scrub forests, and mixed forests. ADW biomes: forest, rainforest, scrub forest. [2]
Where they thrive (Texas / US)
Not verified from a primary source for this page.
Space per animal
No verified species-specific space figure was found; follow zoo/keeper enclosure guidance and consult an exotic-animal veterinarian.
Housing & shelter
Not verified from a primary source for this page.
Fencing
No primary-source containment standard was verified for this species; get enclosure design advice from an experienced keeper or zoo veterinarian.
Natural diet
Ring-tailed lemurs are opportunistic omnivores. They can and will eat whatever is easily available to them including fruits, leaves, stems, flowers, exudates (resin, latex, sap), spiders, spider webs, chameleons, caterpillars insects, small birds, and termite mounds. ADW diet type: omnivore. [2]
Feed & supplementation
No verified diet formulation was found for this page; follow a veterinarian or zoo nutritionist.
Common health issues & parasites
No verified species-specific health list for this page; consult an exotic-animal veterinarian.
Vet care & vaccination
No vaccines are labeled for this species in the US; set any protocol with an exotic-animal veterinarian. (No specific protocol was verified for this page.)
Handling & capture
Capture/restraint protocol not verified for this species; have an experienced exotic-animal veterinarian plan any capture or transport.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered. [3]
Legal notes (general info, not legal advice)
Listed Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (per the EWA list; confirm current status on USFWS ECOS). Interstate sale or transport of ESA-listed animals requires federal authorization. CITES: Appendix I. General information, not legal advice. USDA APHIS licensing under the Animal Welfare Act applies to dealers and exhibitors; check USDA and your state wildlife and animal-health agencies before buying, moving or selling. [1][4][5]
Sources
- Exotic Wildlife Association – Endangered Species List (ESA status & CITES appendix)
- Animal Diversity Web (Univ. of Michigan) – Lemur catta
- IUCN Red List – Lemur catta (assessment page)
- USFWS ECOS – Listed Animals (current ESA status)
- USDA APHIS – Animal Welfare Act licensing & registration
Figures are taken from the numbered sources; items marked "not verified" could not be confirmed from a primary source and are intentionally left blank. Husbandry guidance is general—confirm with an exotic-animal veterinarian.