The red-ruffed lemur, conversely, is mostly deep rusty red with black extremities, crown, forehead, belly and tail. A patch of white fur occurs on the neck. The fur of both subspecies is long and soft, and the common name of the ruffed lemur refers to the long fringe of hairs that hides its ears. It is the largest species in the family Lemuridae.
Most activity takes place in the morning and late afternoon or evening.
It diet is primarily fruit, supplemented with small amounts of nectar, seeds, and leaves. Family groups of black and white ruffed lemurs consist of at least one mated pari, together with a variable number of offspring. The reproductive biology of ruffed lemurs in the wild is poorly understood, and most information comes from observations of captive ruffed lemurs. After being born, infants remain in nests and do to cling to the fur of their mother, as is the case with other lemur species. If they are transported, it is in the mother's mouth.