Ring-tailed lemur

The **ring-tailed lemur** (*Lemur catta*) is a muckle strepsirrhine primate an the maist recognised lemur owin tae its lang, black an white ringed tail. It belangs tae Lemuridae, ane o five lemur families, an is the anely member o the ***Lemur*** genus. Lik aw lemurs, it is endemic tae the island o Madagascar. Kent locally in Malagasy as **' (, spelt **' in French) or **', it indwells [[gallery wid]]s tae jaggy [[scrubland|scrub]] in the soothren regions o the island. It is [[Omnivore|omnivorous]] an the maist [[Terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] o lemurs. The ainimal is [[Diurnality|diurnal]], bein active anely in daylicht oors.

The ring-tailed lemur is heich social, livin in groups o up tae 30 individuals.  It is female dominant an aa, a trait common amang lemurs. Tae keep wairm an reaffirm social bonds, groups will crull thegither. The ring-tailed lemur will sunbathe an aa, sittin upricht facin its unnerside, wi its thinner white fur taewart the sun. Lik ither lemurs, this species lippens strang on its sense o smell an [[territorial markin|marks its territory]] wi scent glands.  The males perform a unique [[Territorial marking|scent marking]] behaviour cried ''spur marking'' an will participate in ''stink fights'' bi impregnatin thair tail wi thair scent an waftin it at opponents.

As ane o the maist vocal primates, the ring-tailed lemur uises mony [[ring-tailed lemur vocalisations|vocalisations]] includin group cohesion an [[alarm signal|alarm caas]].  Experiments hae shawn that the ring-tailed lemur, in maugre o the lack o a muckle harn (relative tae [[Simian|simiiform]] primates), can organise sequences, unnerstaun basic [[arithmetic operation]]s an preferentially select tuils based on functional qualities.

In maugre o reproducin readily in captivity an bein the maist populous lemur in [[zoo]]s warldwide, numberin mair nor 2,000 individuals, the ring-tailed lemur is listed as [[endangered species|endangered]] bi the [[IUCN Red List]] due tae [[habitat destruction]] an huntin for [[bush meat]] an the [[exotic pet]] tred.

== Etymology ==
Tho the term "lemur" wis first intendit for [[slender loris]]es, it wis suin leemitit tae the [[endemism|endemic]] Malagasy primates, that hae been kent as "lemurs" ever syne. The name derives frae the [[Latin]] term ''[[lemures]]'', that refers tae specters or ghosts that wis [[exorcism|exorcised]] in the [[Lemuria (festival)|Lemuria festival]] o auncient Roum. Accordin tae [[Carl Linnaeus]]' ain explanation, the name wis selectit acause o the nocturnal activity an slaw movements o the slender loris. Bein fameiliar wi the warks o [[Virgil]] an [[Ovid]] an seein an analogy that fit wi his naming scheme, Linnaeus adaptit the term "lemur" for thir nocturnal primates. Housomiver, it haes been commonly an fausely assumed that Linnaeus wis referring tae the ghost-lik appearance, [[Tapetum lucidum|reflective een]], an ghostly cries o lemurs. It haes been speculated that Linnaeus hae kent that the some Malagasy fowk hae held legends that lemurs are the souls o thair ancestors, but this isna lik as tae be, gien that the name wis selectit for slender lorises frae Indie. The species name, ''catta'', refers tae the ring-tailed lemur's cat-lik appearance.  Its purrin vocalisation is seemilar tae that o the [[cat|domestic cat]].

Follaein Linnaeus' [[species description]], the [[Vernacular name|common name]] "ringtailed maucauco" wis first penned in 1771 bi Welsh naturalist [[Thomas Pennant]], wha made note o its characteristic lang, striped tail. (The term "maucauco" wis a common term for lemurs at this time.) The nou universal Inglis name "ring-tailed lemur" wis first uised bi [[George Shaw]] in  his illustrated scientific publication kiverin the [[Leverian collection]] published atween 1792 an 1796.

== Anatomy an physiology ==
The ring-tailed lemur is a fairly muckle lemur.  Its average wecht is . Its heid–body lenth ranges atween , its tail lenth is , an its tot lenth is .  Ither measurements include a hind fit lenth o , lug lenth o , an cranium lenth o .


The species haes a slender frame an narra face, tod-lik muzzle.  The ring-tailed lemur's trademark—a lang, bushy tail—is ringed in alternating black an white transverse stripes, numberin 12 or 13&nbsp;white rings an 13 or 14&nbsp;black rings, an aye endin in a black tip.  The tot nummer o rings nearly matches the approximate nummer o [[caudal vertebra]]e (~25). Its tail is langer than its body an is nae [[prehensile tail|prehensile]].  Instead, it is anely uised for balance, communication, an group cohesion.

The [[pelage]] (fur) is sae dense that it can clog electric clippers. The [[Anatomical terms o location|ventral]] (chest) coat an thrapple are white or cream. The [[Anatomical terms o location|dorsal]] (back) coat varies frae gray tae rosy-broun, whiles wi a broun pygal patch aroond the tail region, whaur the fur grades tae fauch gray or grayish broun. The dorsal coloration is slichtly darker aroond the neck an crown. The hair on the throat, cheeks, an lugs is white or aff-white an less dense, allouin the dark skin unnerneath tae shaw throu. The muzzle is dark grayish an the neb is black, an the een are encompassed bi black triangular patches.  Facial vibrissae ([[whiskers]]) are developed an foond abuin the lips (mystacal), on the cheeks (genal), an on the eyebrow (superciliary).  Vibrissae are foond slichtly abuin the wrist on the unnerside o the foreairm an aa.  The lugs are fairly muckle compared tae ither lemurs an are kivered in hair, whilk haes anely sma tufts if ony.  Awtho slicht pattern variations in the facial region mey be seen atween individuals, thare are no obvious differences atween the sexes.

Unalike maist diurnal primates, but lik aw strepsirhine primates, the ring-tailed lemur haes a [[tapetum lucidum]], or reflective layer ahint the [[retina]] o the ee, that enhances [[night vision]].  The tapetum is heich visible in this species acause the pigmentation o the [[Fundus (eye)|ocular fundus]] (back surface o the ee), whilk is present in—but varies atween—aw lemurs, is verra spotty.  The ring-tailed lemur haes a rudimentary [[Fovea centralis|foveal]] depression on the retina.  Anither shared characteristic wi the ither strepsirrhine primates is the [[rhinarium]], a moist, naked, glandular neb supported bi the upper jaw an protruding awa fae the chin.  The rhinarium continues doun whaur it divides the upper lip.  The upper lip is attached tae the [[premaxilla]], preventin the lip frae protrudin an requirin the lemur tae lap watter rather than uisin suction.


The skin o the ring-tailed lemur is dark gray or black in colour, even in places whaur the fur is white.  It is exposed on the neb, palms, soles, eyelids, lips, an genitalia.  The skin is smooth, but the leathery texture o the haunds an feet facilitate terrestrial movement.  The [[anus]], locatit at the jynt o the tail, is covered when the tail is lowered.  The area aroond the anus (circumanal area) an the [[perineum]] is kivered in fur.  In males, the [[scrotum]] lacks fur, is kivered in sma, horny spines, an the twa sacs o the scrotum are dealt.  The penis is near cylindrical in shape an [[penile spines|is covered in smaw spines]], as weel as haein twa pairs o muckler spines on baith sides.  Males haes a relatively sma [[baculum]] (penis bane) compared tae thair size.  The scrotum, penis, an [[foreskin|prepuce]] is uisually coated wi a foul-smelling secretion.  Females haes a thick, elangatit [[clitoris]] that protrudes frae the [[labium (genitalia)|labia]] o the [[vulva]].  The openin o the [[urethra]] is closer tae the clitoris than the [[vagina]], formin a "drip tip."

Females haes twa pairs o [[mammary gland]]s (fower nipples), but anely ane pair is functional.  The anterior pair (closest tae the heid) is verra close tae the [[axilla]]e (oxter).  Furless [[scent gland]]s are present on baith males an females.  Baith genders hae wee, dark antebrachial (forearm) [[scent gland|glands]] meisurin 1&nbsp;cm lang an locatit on the inner surface o the forearm nearly  abuin the wrist jynt.  (This trait is shared atween the ''Lemur'' an ''Hapalemur'' genera.) The gland is saft an compressible, bears fine dermal ridges (lik [[fingerprint]]s), an is connect tae the palm bi a fine, 2&nbsp;mm–heich, hairless strip.  Housomiver, anely the male haes a horny spur that owerlays this scent gland.  The spur develops wi age throu the accumulation o secretions frae an unnerlyin gland that mey connect throu the skin throu as mony as a thoosand minuscule [[Duct (anatomy)|ducts]].  The males  hae brachial (arm) glands on the [[axilla]]ry surface o thair shouders (near the oxter) an aa.  The brachial gland is muckler than the antebrachial gland, kivered in short hair aroond the periphery, an haes a naked crescent-shaped orifice near the centre.  The gland secretes a foul-smelling, brown, sticky substance.  The brachial gland is barely developed if present at aw in females.  Baith genders hae [[apocrine]] an [[sebaceous]] glands in thair genital or perianal regions an aa, that are kivered in fur.

Its fingers are slender, padded, maistly lackin wabbin, an semi-dexterous wi flat, human-lik [[finger nail|nails]].  The thumb is baith short an widely separated frae the ither fingers.  In maugre o bein set at a richt angle tae the palm, the thumb is nae opposable syne the ball o the jynt is fixed in place.  As wi aw strepsirrhines, the haund is ectaxonic (the axis passes throu the fowert deegit) rather than mesaxonic (the axis passin throu the third deegit) as seen in monkeys an apes.  The fowert deegit is the langest, an anely slichtly langer than the seicont deegit.  Likwise, the fift deegit is anely slichtly langer than the seicont.  The palms are lang an leathery, an lik ither primates, thay hae dermal ridges tae improve grip.  The feet are semi-[[digitigrade]] an mair specialised than the haunds.  The muckle tae is opposable an is smawer than the muckle tae o ither lemurs, that is mair [[Arboreal locomotion|arboreal]].  The seicont toe is short, haes a wee terminal pad, an haes a [[toilet-claw]] (whiles referred tae as a ''gruimin claw'') specialised for [[personal gruimin]], specifically tae rake throu fur that is unreakable bi the mooth.  The toilet-claw is a trait shared amang near aw livin strepsirrhine primates.  Unlik ither lemurs, the ring-tailed lemur's heel isnae covered bi fur.



=== Denteetion ===

The ring-tailed lemur haes a [[denteetion]] o , meanin that on ilka side o the jaw it haes twa [[incisor]]s, ane [[canine tuith]], three [[premolar]]s, an three [[molar (tuith)|molar teeth]].  Its [[Deciduous teeth|deciduous dentition]] is .  The [[permanent teeth]] [[Tuith eruption|erupt]] in the follaein order: m&nbsp;1/1 (first molars), i&nbsp;2/2 (first incisors), i&nbsp;3/3 (seicont incisors), C1 (upper canines), m&nbsp;2/2 (seicont molars), c1 (lawer canines), m&nbsp;3/3 (third molars), p&nbsp;4/4 (third premolars), p&nbsp;3/3 (seicont premolars), p&nbsp;2/2 (first premolars).

Its lawer incisors (i1 an i2) is lang, narra, an finely spaced whilk pynt naur straucht forwart in the mooth (procumbent).  Thegither wi the incisor-shaped (incisiform) lawer canines (c1), that is slichtly lairger an procumbent, form a structur cried a [[tuithcomb]], a trait unique tae near aw strepsirrhine primates.  The tuithcomb is uised in oral gruimin, that involves lickin an tuith-scrapin.  It can be uised for graspin wee fruit, remuivin leafs frae the stem whan eatin, an possibly scrapin sap an gum frae tree bark.  The tuithcomb is kept clean uisin a sublingual organ—a thin, flat, fibrous plate that kivers a muckle pairt o the base o the tongue.  The first lawer premolar (p2) follaein the tuithcomb is shaped lik a canine (caniniform) an occludes the upper canine, essentially fillin the role o the incisiform lawer canine.  Thare is  a [[Diastema (dentistry)|diastema]] (gap) atween the seicont an third premolars (p2 an p3) an aa.

The upper incisors is sma, wi the first incisors (I1) space widely frae ilkane ither, yet closely tae the seicont incisors (I2).  Baith o thaim is compressed buccolingually (atween the cheek an the tongue).  The upper canines (C1) are lang, hae a braid base, an curve doun an back (recurved).  The upper canines exhibit slicht [[sexual dimorphism]], wi males exhibitin slichtly muckler canines than females.  Baith sexes uise them in combat bi sleeshin wi them.  Thare is a wee diastema atween the upper canine an the first premolar (P2), that is smawer an mair caniniform than the ither premolars.  Unalike ither lemurs, the first twa upper molars (M1 an M2) hae prominent lingual cingulae, yet dae nae hae a protostyle.

== Ecology ==
The ring-tailed lemur is [[Diurnality|diurnal]] an semi-terrestrial. It is the maist terrestrial o lemur species, spendin as much as 33% o its time on the grund. Houiver it is still considerably [[arboreal]], spendin 23% o its time in the mid-level [[canopy (forest)|canopy]], 25% in the upper-level canopy, 6% in the emergent layer an 13% in sma bushes. Troop traivel is 70% terrestrial.

Troop size, hame range, an population density vary bi region an fuid availability. Troops typically range in size frae 6 tae 25, tho troops wi ower 30&nbsp;individuals hae been recordit. The average troop contains 13 tae 15&nbsp;individuals. Hame range size varies atween . Troops o the ring-tailed lemur will maintain a territory, but owerlap is aften heich. Whan encounters occur, thay are [[Agonistic behaviour|agonistic]], or hostile in naitur. A troop will uisually occupy the same pairt o its range for three or fower day afore flittin. Whan it flits, the average traivelin distance is . [[Population density]] ranges frae 100&nbsp;individuals per  in dry forests tae 250–600&nbsp;individuals per km<sup>2</sup> in [[gallery forest|gallery]] an seicontar forests.

The ring-tailed lemur haes baith native an [[introduced species|introduced]] predators. Native predators include the [[Fossa (animal)|fossa]] (''Cryptoprocta ferox''), the [[Madagascar harrier-hawk]] (''Polyboroides radiatus''), the [[Madagascar buzzard]] (''Buteo brachypterus'') an the [[Boa madagascariensis|Madagascar grund boa]] (''Boa madagascariensis''). Introduced predators include the [[small Indian civet]] (''Viverricula indica''), the [[domestic cat]] an the [[domestic dog]].

=== Geografic range an habitat ===


[[Endemism|Endemic]] tae soothren an soothwastren [[Madagascar]], the ring-tailed lemur ranges further intae highland areas than ither lemurs.  It indwells [[deciduous wid]]s, dry [[Shrubland|scrub]], [[Clood wid|montane humid wids]], an [[gallery wid]]s (wids alang riverbanks). It strangly favours gallery wids, but siclike fwids haes nou been cleared frae the feck o Madagascar in order tae create pastur for livestock. Dependin on location, temperaturesathin its geographic range can vary frae  at [[Andringitra Massif]] tae  in the jaggy wids o [[Beza Mahafaly Reserve|Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve]].

This species is foond sae far east as [[Tôlanaro]], inland taewart the mountains o [[Andringitra National Park|Andringitra]] on the sootheastren plateau, amang the spiny forests o the soothren pairt o the island, an north alang the wast coast tae the toun o [[Belo sur Mer]].  Historically, the northren leemits o its range in the wast stendit tae the [[Morondava River]] near [[Morondava]].  It can still be foond in [[Kirindy Mitea National Park]], juist sooth o Morondava, tho at verra law densities.  It disnae occur in [[Kirindy Forest Reserve]], north o Morondava.  Its distribution outower the rest o its range is verra spotty, wi population densities varyin widely.

The ring-tailed lemur can be easy seen in five naitional pairks in Madagascar: Andohahela Naitional Pairk, Andringitra Naitional Park, Isalo National Park, Tsimanampetsotse National Park, an Zombitse-Vohibasia Naitional Pairk.  It can be foond in [[Beza Mahafaly Reserve|Beza-Mahafaly Special Reserve]], [[Kalambatritra Reserve|Kalambatritra Special Reserve]], [[Pic d'Ivohibe Reserve|Pic d'Ivohibe Special Reserve]], [[Amboasary Sud]], [[Berenty Reserve|Berenty Private Reserve]], [[Anja Community Reserve]], an marginally at Kirindy Mitea Naitional Park.  Unpertected forests that the species haes been reportit in include [[Ankoba]], [[Ankodida]], [[Anjatsikolo]], [[Anbatotsilongolongo]], [[Bereny]], [[Mahazoarivo]], [[Masiabiby]], an [[Mikea]].

Athin the pertected regions, it is kent tae inhabit, the ring-tailed lemur is [[sympatry|sympatric]] (shares its range) wi as mony as 24 [[Leet o lemur species|species o lemur]], kivering ilka livin genus cep ''[[Allocebus]]'', ''[[Indri]]'', an ''Varecia''.  Historically, the species uised tae be sympatric wi the critically endangered soothren black-an-white ruffed lemur (''Varecia variegata editorum''), whilk wis ance foond at Andringitra National Park; housomiver, nae sichtins o the ruffed lemur hae been reportit in recent years.



In wastren Madagascar, sympatric ring-tailed lemurs an [[red-fronted lemur]]s (''Eulemur rufifrons'') hae been studied thegither. Little interaction taks place atween the twa species. Whilk the diets o the twa species owerlap, thay eat in different proportions syne the ring-tailed lemur haes a mair varied diet an spends mair time on the grund.

== Behaviour ==

=== Diet ===
The ring-tailed lemur is an opportunistic [[omnivore]] primarily eatin fruits an leafs, parteecularly thaim o the [[tamarind]] tree (''Tamarindus indica''), kent natively as ''kily''. Whan available, tamarind maks up 50% o the diet, enspecially throu the dry, winter saison. The ring-tailed lemur eats frae sae mony as three dozen different plant species, an its diet includes flouers, yerbs, bark an sap. It haes been observed eatin decayed wid, [[geophagy|earth]], speeder webs, insect cocoons, [[arthropod]]s (spiders, caterpillars, cicadas an grasshoppers) an sma [[vertebrate]]s (birds an chameleons). In the dry saison, it becomes increasingly opportunistic.

=== Social seestems ===
Troops are classified as [[multi-male group]]s, wi a [[matriline]] as the core group. As wi maist lemurs, females socially dominate males in aw circumstances, includin feedin priority. Dominance is enforced bi lunging, chasin, cuffin, grabbin an bitin. Young females dinnae aye inherit thair mither's rank an young males leave the troop atween three an five year o age. Baith sexes hae separate dominance hierarchies; females hae a distinct hierarchy whilk the male rank is correlatit wi age. Ilka troop haes ane tae three central, heich-ranking adult males wha interact wi females mair nor ither group males an lead the troop procession wi heich-ranking females. Recently transferred males, auld males or young adult males that hinnae yet left thair natal group is aften lawer rankin. Stayin at the periphery o the group, thay tend tae be marginalised frae group activity.


For males, social structur chynges can be seasonal. Throu the sax-month period atween December an Mey, a few males immigrate atween groups. Established males transfer on average ilka 3.5&nbsp;year, tho young males mey transfer thareby ilka 1.4 year. Group fission occurs whan groups get too muckle an resoorces acome scarce.

In the mornings, the ring-tailed lemur sunbathes tae warm itsel. It faces the sun sitting in whit is frequently describit as a "sun-worshipping" posture or [[lotus position]]. Housomiver, it sits wi its legs extendit outward, nae cross-leggit, an will aften support itsel on nearby branches. Sunnin is aften a group activity, parteecularly in the cauld mornings. At nicht, troops will split intae sleepin parties huddlin close thegither tae keep wairm.

Despite bein [[quadruped]]al the ring-tailed lemur can rear up an balance on its hind legs, uisually for aggressive displays. Whan threatened, the ring-tailed lemur mey jump in the air an strike oot wi its short nails an sharp upper [[Canine tooth|canine teeth]] in a behaviour termed ''jump fighting''. This is extremely rare ootside o the breedin saison whan tensions are heich an competition for mates is intense. Ither aggressive behaviours include a ''threat-stare'', uised tae intimidate or stairt a fecht, an a submissive gesture kent as ''pulled-back lips''.

Border disputes wi rival troops occur whiles an it is the dominant female's responsibility tae defend the troop's home range. Agonistic encounters include staring, lunging approaches an whiles physical aggression, an conclude wi troop members retreating toward the centre o the home range.


==== Olfactory communication ====

[[Olfaction|Olfactory]] communication is critically important for strepsirrhines lik the ring-tailed lemur. Males an females [[territorial merkin|scent merk]] baith vertical an horizontal surfaces at the owerlaps in thair home ranges uisin thair [[scent gland|anogenital scent glands]]. The ring-tailed lemur will perform a haundstaund tae merk vertical surfaces, graspin the heichest pynt wi its feet whilk it applies its scent. Uise o scent marking varies bi age, sex an social status. Male lemurs uise thair antebrachial an brachial glands tae demarcate territories an maintain intragroup dominance hierarchies. The thorny spur that overlays the antebrachial gland on ilka wrist is scraped agin tree trunks tae create grooves anointed wi thair scent. This is kent as ''spur-marking''.

In displays o aggression, males engages in a social display behaviour cried ''stink fichtin'', whilk involves impregnating thair tails wi secretions frae the antebrachial an brachial glands an wavin the scented tail at male rivals.

Ring-tailed lemurs haes been shawn tae [[sprayin (ainimal behavior)|merk uisin urine]].  Behaviorally, thare is a difference atween regular urination, whaur the tail is slichtly raised an a stream o urine is produced, an the urine marking behaviour, whaur the tail is held up in display an anly a few draps o urine are uised.  The urine-marking behavior is typically uised bi females tae merk territory, an haes been observed primarily at the edges o the troop's territory an in areas whaur ither troops mey frequent.  The urine marking behavior is maist frequent in the matein saison, an mey pley a role in reproductive communication atween groups.

==== Auditory communication ====



The ring-tailed lemur is ane o the maist vocal primates an haes a complex array o distinct [[animal communication|vocalisations]] uised tae maintain group cohesion in foragin an alert group members tae the presence o a predator.  Caas range frae semple tae complex.  An ensaumple o a semple caw is the purr (), which expresses contentment.  A complex caw is the sequence o clicks, close-mooth click series (CMCS), open-mooth click series (OMCS) an yaps () uised during [[mobbing behaviour|predator mobbing]]. Some caws haes variants an unnergang transitions atween variants, lik an infant "whit" (distress caw) transitionin frae ane variant tae anither ().

The maist common heard vocalisations is the moan () (law-tae-moderate arousal, group cohesion), early-heich wail () (moderate-tae-heich arousal, group cohesion), an clicks () ("location marker" tae draw attention).

=== Breedin an reproduction ===

The ring-tailed lemur is [[polygynandrous]], tho the dominant male in the troop typically breeds wi mair females than ither males. Fechtin is maist common throu the breedin saison. A receptive female mey initiate matein bi presenting her backside, liftin her tail an leukin at the desired male ower her shouther. Males mey inspect the female's genitals tae determine receptiveness. Females typically mate athin thair troop, but mey seek males fae ootwi the troop.

The breedin saison rins frae mid-Aprile tae mid-Mey. [[Estrus]] lests 4 tae 6&nbsp;oors, an females mate wi multiple males in this period.  Athin a troop, females stagger thair receptivity sae that ilka female comes intae saison on a different day in the breedin saison, reducin competition for male attention. [[Gestation]] lests for aboot 135&nbsp;days, an [[childbirth|parturition]] occurs in September or whiles October. In the wild, ane affspring is the norm, awtho twins mey occur. Ring-tailed lemur infants hae a birth wecht o  an are carried ventrally (on the chest) for the first 1 tae 2&nbsp;weeks, then dorsally (on the back).

The young lemurs begin tae eat solit fuid efter twa month an is fou weaned efter five month. Sexual maturity is reakit atween 2.5 an 3 year. Male involvement in infant rearin is leemit, awtho the entire troop, regairdless o age or sex, can be seen carin for the young. [[Alloparenting]] atween troop females haes been reportit. Kidnappin bi females an [[Infanticide (zoology)|infanticide]] bi males occurs whiles. Owin tae harsh environmental conditions, predation an accidents lik faws, infant mortality can be sae heich as 50% athin the first year an sae few as 30% mey reach adultheid.  The langest-lived ring-tailed lemur in the wild wis a female at the Berenty Reserve wha lived for 20&nbsp;year. In the wild, females rarely live past the age o 16, whaur the life expectancy o males isnae kent due tae thair social structur. The langest-lived male wis reportit tae be 15&nbsp;year auld.  The maximum lifespan reportit in captivity wis 27&nbsp;years.

=== Cognitive abilities an tuil uise ===
Historically, the studies o [[learnin]] an [[cogneetion]] in non-human primates hae focused on [[simian]]s (monkeys an apes), whilk strepsirrhine primates, lik the ring-tailed lemur an its allies, haes been owerleuked an popularly dismissed as unintelligent. A couple o factors stemmin frae early experiments hae pleyed a role in the development o this assumption. First, the [[design o experiments|experimental design]] o aulder tests mey hae favoured the naitural behaviour an ecology o simians ower that o strepsirrhines, makin the experimental tasks inappropriate for lemurs. For ensample, simians is kent for thair manipulative pley wi non-fuid objects, whauras lemurs are anely kent tae manipulate non-fuid objects in captivity. This behaviour is uisually connected wi fuid association. Lemurs are kent for displacin objects wi thair neb or mooth mair sae than wi thair haunds.  Therefore, an experiment requirin a lemur tae manipulate an object wioot prior training wad favor simians ower strepsirrhines. Seicont, individual ring-tailed lemurs accustomed tae livin in a troop mey nae respond well tae isolation for laboratory testin. Past studies hae reportit hysterical behaviour in siclike scenarios.

The notion that lemurs isna intelligent haes been perpetuate bi the view that the [[neocortex#Neocortex ratio|neocortex ratio]] (as a meisur o harn size) indicates intelligence. In fact, [[primatology|primatologist]] [[Alison Jolly]] noted early in her academic career that some lemur species, lik the ring-tailed lemur, hae evolved a social complexity seemilar tae that o [[Cercopithecinae|cercopithecine]] monkeys, but nae the correspondin intelligence. Efter years o observations o wild ring-tailed lemur populations at the [[Berenty Reserve]] in Madagascar as weel as baboons in Africae, she mair recently concluded that this heich social lemur species disnae demonstrate the equivalent social complexity o cercopithecine monkeys, in maugre o the general appearances.

Regairdless, research haes continued tae illuminate the complexity o the lemur mind, wi emphasis on the cognitive abilities o the ring-tailed lemur. Sae early as the mid-1970s, studies haed demonstrated that thay coud be trained throu [[operant conditioning]] uisin standard [[reinforcement#Schedules|schedules o reinforcement]]. The species haes been shawn tae be capable o learnin pattern, brightness an object discrimination, skills common amang [[vertebrate]]s. The ring-tailed lemur haes been shawn tae lear a variety o complex tasks eften equaling, if nae exceedin, the performance o simians an aa.

Mair recently, research at the [[Duke Lemur Center]] haes shawn that the ring-tailed lemur can organise sequences in memory an retrieve ordered sequences wioot language. The experimental design demonstrated that the lemurs war uisin internal representation o the sequence tae guide thair responses an nae simply follaein a trained sequence, whaur ane item in the sequence cues the selection o the next. But this isnae the leemit o the ring-tailed lemur's reasoning skills. Anither study, performed at the [[Lemur Conservation Foundation#Myakka City Lemur Reserve|Myakka City Lemur Reserve]], suggests that this species alang wi seevral ithers are closely relatit lemur species an unnerstaun semple arithmetic operations.

Syne tuil uise is considered tae be a key featur o primate intelligence, the apparent lack o this behaviour in wild lemurs, as weel as the lack o non-fuid object play, haes helped reinforce the perception that lemurs is less intelligent than thair simian cousins. Housomiver, anither study at the Myakka City Lemur Reserve examined the representation o tuil functionality in baith the ring-tailed lemur an the [[common brown lemur]] an diskivered that, lik monkeys, thay uised tuils wi functional properties (e.g., tuil orientation or ease o uise) instead o tuils wi nonfunctional features (e.g., colour or texture). Tho the ring-tailed lemur dinnae aye uise tuils in the wild, it cannae jist be trained tae uise a tuil, but will preferentially select tuils based on thair functional qualities. The conceptual competence tae uise a tuil mey hae been present in the common primate ancestor, even tho the uise o tuils mey nae hae appeared til a while later.

== Conservation status ==
In addition tae bein listed as ''endangered'' in 2014 bi the IUCN, the ring-tailed lemur haes been listed syne 1977 bi [[CITES]] unner [[CITES#Appendix I|Appendix I]], that maks tred o wild-caught specimens illegal. Tho thare mair endangered species o lemur, the ring-tailed lemur is considered a [[flagship species]] due tae its recognisability.


Three factors threaten ring-tailed lemurs. First an foremost is [[habitat destruction]].  Stairtin nearly 2,000&nbsp;years ago wi the introduction o humans tae the island, wids hae been cleared tae produce pastur an agricultural land. Extraction o haurdwids for fuel an lummer, as weel as minin an [[owergrazin]], hae takken thair toll.  Thir days, it is estimatit that 90% o Madagascar's original forest civer haes been lost. Rising populations hae creaut even greater demand in the southwest portion o the island for fuel wid, [[charcoal]], an lummer. Fires frae the clearin o grasslands, as weel as sleesh-an-burn agriculture destroy wids.  Anither threat tae the species is hairstin aither for fuid ([[bush meat]]) or [[exotic pet|pets]]. Finally, periodic drocht common tae soothren Madagascar can impact populations awready in decline.  In 1991 an 1992, for ensample, a severe drocht caused an abnormally heich mortality rate amang infants an females at the [[Beza Mahafaly Reserve|Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve]].  Twa yeir later, the population haed declined bi 31% an teuk near fower yeir tae stairt tae rekiver.

The ring-tailed lemur bides in seevral pertected areas athin its range, ilkane o thaim offerin varyin levels o pertection. At the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, a holistic approach tae [[in-situ conservation]] haes been takken.  No anely daes field research an resoorce management involve international students an local fowk (includin schuil childer), livestock management is uised at the peripheral zones o the reserve an [[ecotourism]] benefits the local fowk.

Ootwi its diminishin habitat an ither threats, the ring-tailed lemur reproduces readily an haes fared weel in captivity.  For this reason, alang wi its popularity, it haes acome the maist populous lemur in [[zoo]]s warldwide, wi mair nor 2500 in captivity as o 2009.  It is the maist common o aw captive primates.  [[Ex-situ conservation|Ex situ]] facilities actively involved in the conservation o the ring-tailed lemur include the [[Duke Lemur Center]] in [[Durham, NC]], the [[Lemur Conservation Foundation]] in Myakka City, FL an the [[Madagascar Fauna Group]] headquartert at the [[Saint Louis Zoo]].  Owin tae the heich success o captive breedin, reintroduction is a possibility if wild populations war tae crash.  Tho experimental releases hae met success on [[St. Catherines Island]] in Georgia, demonstratin that captive lemurs can readily adapt tae thair environment an exhibit a fou range o naitural behaviours, captive release isnae currently bein considered.

Ring-tailed lemur populations can benefit frae drocht intervention, owin tae the availability o watterin troughs an introduced fruit trees, as seen at the [[Berenty Reserve|Berenty Private Reserve]] in soothren Madagascar.  Housomiver, thir interventions arnae ay seen favorably, syne naitural population fluctuations are nae permitted.  The species is thocht tae hae evolved its heich [[fecundity]] owin tae its hairsh environment.

== Cultural references ==
The ring-tailed lemur is kent locally in Malagasy as **' (pronoonced , an spelled *maki* in French) or ** (pronoonced  or colloquially ).  Bein the maist widely recognised endemic primate on the island, it haes been selected as the symbol for Madagascar National Parks (formerly kent as ANGAP).  The *Maki* brand, which stairtit bi selling T-shirts in Madagascar an nou sells claedin across the Indian Ocean islands, is cried efter this lemur owin tae its popularity, despite the fact that the company's logo portrays the face o a sifaka an its name uses the French spelling.

The first mention o the ring-tailed lemur in Western literature cam in 1625 whan Inglis traiveler an writer Samuel Purchas descrivit them as bein comparable in size tae a monkey an haein a tod-lik lang heich wi black an white rings.

It haes been popularised in Western culture bi the Animal Planet telly series *[[Lemur Street]]*, as weel as bi the character King Julien in the animatit ''Madagascar'' film an TV franchise. The ring-tailed lemur wis the focus o the 1996 *[[Nature (TV series)|Nature]]* documentary *A Lemur's Tale*, whilk wis filmed at the Berenty Reserve an follaed a troop o lemurs.  The troop includit a special infant named Sapphire, wha wis near albino, wi white fur, bricht blue een, an the characteristic ringed tail.

This species pleyed a role in the 1997 comedy film *[[Fierce Creatures]]*, starring John Cleese, who haes a passion for lemurs. Cleese later haudit the 1998 BBC documentary *In t tracked the progress o a [[reintroduction]] o [[black-an-white ruffed lemur]]s back intae the [[Betampona Reserve]] in Madagascar.  The project haed been pairtly fundit bi Cleese's donation o the proceeds frae the Lunnon premier o *Fierce Creatures*.

== Notes ==


== References ==



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== Freemit airtins ==

* [http://www.ringtailedlemurssp.org/ Official ring-tailed lemur species survival plan] 
* [http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4730 Ring-tailed Lemur: *Lemur catta*]  – Tree o Life Project
* ARKive – [http://www.arkive.org/ring-tailed-lemur/lemur-catta/ images and movies o the ring-tailed lemur] 
* [http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ring-tailed_lemur Primate Info Net *Lemur catta* Factsheet]
* [http://www.lemurreserve.org/ringtailedlemur.html Lemur Conservation Foundation: ring-tailed lemurs] 
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/a-lemurs-tale-introduction/2306/ Nature: *A Lemur's Tale*]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/inthewild/cleese.html PBS: *In the Wild: Operation Lemur with John Cleese'']