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Lemurs (3rd in series): Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur

A large, loud, and spectacularly agile rainforest-dwelling lemur, it is usually considered a single species, Varecia variegata.

Some argue that its three subspecies are so distinct that they should be classified as three species.

Alas, beyond argument is its/their status: critically endangered.

Their populations are small and fragmented.

Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs are considered “difficult to see”, because they favour steep terrain and spend much of their time in the rainforest’s canopy.

 

Ranomafana, 14 May 2018, 11.14 am. Copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Andasibe-Mantadia, 21 May 2018, 3.23 pm. Copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Andasibe-Mantadia, 21 May 2018, 3.20 pm. Copyright Doug Spencer.

 

So, we were very lucky – in part, I suspect, because they are fruit eaters, and we and they happened upon some fruit which was not very high up.

 

Andasibe-Mantadia, 21 May 2018, 3.28 pm. Copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Andasibe-Mantadia, 21 May 2018, 3.28 pm. Copyright Doug Spencer.

 

Although not the largest lemurs, they are the largest of the  Lemuridae. (which is one of five Lemur “families”)

To my knowledge, this species’ breeding/nesting behaviour is singular among primates; Varecia variegata females give birth to twins, which they raise in a nest.

Discover more, here.

 

Andasibe-Mantadia, 21 May 2018, 3.18 pm. Copyright Doug Spencer.

 

There are more Lemur episodes to come on Pelican Yoga, but the next few Madagascan posts will consider human life on this “eighth continent”.

Published in Americas and Eurasia and Africa nature and travel photographs