Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Varecia variegata

Easy (Polygynous)

The **Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur** (*Varecia variegata*) is a small African primate featured in the Standard Edition of *Planet Zoo.* They were added in the 1.7.2 Update.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population in the Wild:** 1,000 - 10,000

The black-and-White ruffed lemur (or Varecia variegata) is a species of primate native to the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. As the name implies, its coat is made up of distinct black and white patches: the underside, head, paws and tail are black, while limbs, back and the distinctive ruff are white. Black-and-White ruffed lemurs are 20in to 22in long, with a tail of around 24in length. Like in other lemurs, females are slightly larger than males.

The species is classed as critically endangered, with its population further decreasing due to poaching and habitat loss. They are frequently hunted by locals for their meat, while at the same time their habitat is fragmented further due to continuous deforestation for slash-and-burn agriculture.

### Social

Black-and-White ruffed lemurs are social animals that form a variety of different group structures. Group size usually varies based on food availability, larger groups splitting into smaller subgroups if resources become scarce. Females are dominant in this species. In larger groups, there may be communal nests into which multiple unrelated litters are placed and protected by all members of the group.

### Reproduction

The mating season of black-and-White ruffed lemurs is between May and July. Females are only in estrus for a brief period of up to three days, with an even shorter window of up to twelve hours in which she will allow males to mater with her. Males will court females by approaching her with a lowered head and submissive shrieks, which she may respond to with roars, bites, and other aggressive displays, even when allowing him to mate.

Pregnancies last around 102 days, after which the female gives birth to a litter of young 2 to 3 on average. After birth, infants are left in a small nest built and guarded by the parents, or a communal nest which is taken care of by all members of the group, Babies will remain in the nest until 4 weeks old, when they will start following their mother. Weaning occurs at around 4 months old, although may last up until the infant is 8 months old.

Black-and-White ruffed lemurs reach sexual maturity at around 2 to 3 years old, though do not usually begin reproducing by this time. Males usually migrate to other groups, while females tend to stay in their natal group, though animals may also form and travel in pairs.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Block of Frozen Fruit · Forage Box Enrichment · Fruit Spike Tree · Small Fixed Roller Feeder · Suspended Forager
Cardboard Box · Climbing Frame · Ice Block · Mirror Mobile · Musical Keyboard · Small Ball · Sprinkler · Small Ice Ball Enrichment · Gift Box · Small Ball Colourful · Rubber Duck

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* Black-and-white ruffed lemurs have scent glads on their wrists, which they will rub on trees to mark their territories.
* A group of black-and-white ruffed lemurs is called a 'conspiracy'.
* Despite their comparatively small size, black-and-white ruffed lemurs have the second loudest call of all primates.
* Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are generally found high up in trees, foraging in the upper canopies up to 115ft high.
* Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are important to the ecosystem as pollinators: When feeding on nectar, pollen sticks to their dense ruff and face, which they will then carry to other plants.

### Other Trivia

* The Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur was originally teased on World Lemur Day (as seen in the middle image below).
* The Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur is the first animal added to Planet Zoo for free, as part of their two year anniversary event/update.
* The Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur is also the first critically endangered species to be added to Planet Zoo since launch.

## Gallery

Official reveal screenshot.First teaser posted on the official channels by Frontier.