The tail is not prehensile, the lemur can't hang from its tail like a spider monkey does. The thick tail is as long as its body and is used to balance along a branch and jump from tree to tree. It is also used to communicate their feelings. Ruffs spend the most time in trees and eat the most fruits of all large lemurs. They also snack on leaves, shoots, seeds, nectar and may even eat soil.
Females form the core of the group and defend the territory.
They are usually larger than the males. Black and White Ruffs have been found in monogamous pairs, or in larger groups of 5-16. Females are particularly defensive of territory. Larger groups form during the wet season as the lemurs gather at fruiting trees, which break up into smaller groups during the dry season. They can travel up to 2km a day looking for food.