This species is the best known of all Malagasy lemurs and is immediately identified by its strikingly banded tail. It cannot be confused with other lemurs within its range or with any other Malagasy lemur. One additional population occurs near the mountains of Andringita on the southeastern plateau. The ring-tailed lemur is the most intensively studied of all lemur taxa. It inhabits many forest types throughout its range, including dry scrub and Didiereaceae forest, as well as deciduous and gallery forests.
Densities are higher in undisturbed gallery forests than in drier habitats.
The proportion of fruit versus leaves varies according to forest type. Photo by Anthony C. Brewer Group size ranges from 3 to over 20 individuals and averages about 18, with multiple adult males and females. Within two weeks after birth, after initially clinging to its mother's underside, the infant can be seen riding on her back. Lemur catta alarm calls distinguish between terrestrial and avian predators, indicating that predation may be a factor in infant mortality. It has a strong preference for gallery forests along rivers and for Euphorbia bush, but these habitats are disappearing rapidly within the region because of fires, overgrazing by livestock, and cutting of trees for charcoal production.