Cat lemur (other names are ringtail lemur, lemur Katta) is the most popular of the lemur family. Cat lemur is a representative of the Primate squad. In Madagascar, cat lemur is nicknamed the Maquis. Lemurs are very nice, funny and kind animals. Below you will find a description and a photo of the lemur, and learn a lot about this unusual and mysterious animal.
What does lemur look like?
Lemur looks like a slender animal and is comparable in size to a cat. The body length of the ringtailed lemur varies from 38 to 45 cm. Lemur looks quite unusual. The main pride of cat lemur is its long tail, which is painted in black and white stripes. The lemur has a tail length of 60 cm, with approximately 13 black and white stripes. Lemur looks somewhat mystical, due to its unusual coloring and huge yellow eyes.
Lemur looks quite fluffy because it has thick wool. The back of a cat's lemur is grey, sometimes pinkish-brown. The lemur's paws are also grey, and the head and neck are dark grey. Lemur looks contrasting, due to the combinations of shades in which his wool is dyed. The stomach and paws on the inside of the cat lemur are white. The white muzzle of the lemur catta has dark triangular spots around the eyes and a black nose.
Lemur looks so long-tailed for a reason. The lemur's tail has been his faith and truth all his life. Cat lemurs use their tail to communicate with their relatives. The tail also allows them to balance climbing and jumping through trees, even on the thinnest branches. Lemur looks graceful because it is very flexible and flexible. Lemur also uses its tail as a scent spreader. Lemur catta weighs 3.5 kg and its tail can weigh more than 1.5 kg of the total weight of the animal. It is because of its tail that the lemur is called the ringtailed lemur.
Where do lemurs live and how?
Lemurs live in Madagascar. On this island, lemurs live almost everywhere. In Madagascar, the lemurs live on an area from Fort Dauphine to Monradow. A small number of lemurs live in the Andringitra Mountains. Lemurs live in forests and dry open areas.
Among all other lemurs, cat lemurs spend most of their time on the ground. This is because lemurs are adapted to live in arid environments. Animal lemurs are mainly active in the dark. Cat lemurs are very social animals. Therefore, lemurs live in groups of 20-30 individuals. In each of these groups, there is a strict hierarchy and unquestioned matriarchy. The leading female belongs to the superiority in the choice of food and partner.
Each group has its territory, which can range from 6 to 23 hectares. Male males have sharp fingertips, with which they scratch the bark of young trees. In this way, the males mark the borders of the territory, because the paws have glands that impregnate the bark with a sharp smell. The lemur animal is aggressive towards strangers.
Lemurs go around their lands every day in search of food. After a meal, they usually clean their coats. When the lemur animal moves on the ground, it uses all four paws. Ringed lemurs have good eyesight and developed fingers with flat fingernails, which makes it easier to get food and move around tree branches. Rest and sleeps on the lemur katta trees.
Cat lemurs love the sun and enjoy its warmth. Animal lemur loves sunbathing. During such procedures, he takes an unusual pose and sits with his paws apart. From the outside, it may seem that the lemur Katta is meditating. This posture is very unusual for the animal world.
Lemur tail plays a very important role in social behavior. When a cat's lemur walks on the ground, he is especially proud to hold his tail vertically to make it more noticeable. The reason for such pride is also that the tail helps the males in the "stinking battle". They smear the tail with a special secret and then expose it to the enemy. This is how all disputes about the ranks in the social hierarchy are solved and the territory is protected from outsiders.
Cat lemur is the most common lemur compared to other lemurs. But the International Union for Conservation of Nature defines it as a threatened species. At present, the population of the ringtailed lemurs is decreasing.
The main threats to cat lemurs are hunting and loss of natural habitats. Also, the lemur animal has a major enemy in Madagascar. This is the animal of the fossa, also known as the lion of Madagascar.
What does lemur eat?
Mostly lemur eats fruit. So we can say that cat lemur is a vegetarian. Lemurs also eat leaves and flowers and herbaceous plants.
Lemur even eats cactuses and occasionally insects. Lemurs often look for food on the ground, but always try to stay close to the trees, so that in case of danger they will be covered. Lemur Katta is very careful.