Home › Mammalia › Lemuridae › Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra)
SPECIES PROFILE
Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra)
Varecia
IUCN STATUS
Critically Endangered
CONSERVATION STATUS
Critically Endangered
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Masoala Peninsula only
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
Lowland eastern rainforest
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Lemuridae
GENUS
Varecia
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 55 cm + 60 cm tail; 3-4 kg
COLORATION
Deep rust-red with a black face, hands and tail
ADAPTATIONS
One of the few lemurs to build a nest for its young
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Lowland eastern rainforest
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Masoala Peninsula only
REPRODUCTION
Litter of up to 6 kept in a nest
DIET DETAILS
Fruit, nectar and pollen
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Deforestation, hunting
💡 Interesting Facts
1
One of the largest lemurs, found only on Madagascar's Masoala Peninsula.
2
An important pollinator, it carries pollen on its face between giant traveller's-palm flowers.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Masoala National Park
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
April-November
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Trek the Masoala rainforest by day; listen for loud alarm calls to locate the bright red troop.
