Mammals
Black-and-white ruffed lemur
Varecia variegata
The black-and-white ruffed lemur is one of Madagascar's largest and most striking lemurs, with its bold black-and-white coat and powerful call. It lives in the canopy of the eastern rainforests, where it plays a key role as a forest 'gardener'.
from€85,40
In short
The black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is a species with IUCN conservation status CR (Critically endangered). Endemic to the primary rainforests of eastern Madagascar, it lives almost entirely in the crowns of the tallest trees, 15–25 m above the ground. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: view the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the black-and-white ruffed lemur live?
Endemic to the primary rainforests of eastern Madagascar, it lives almost entirely in the crowns of the tallest trees, 15–25 m above the ground. It feeds mainly on fruit: by swallowing seeds whole and dispersing them far away, it is one of the forest's most important seed dispersers.
Is the black-and-white ruffed lemur endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Critically Endangered (CR), with a steeply declining population: about −80% over twenty-one years. The main threats are slash-and-burn agriculture, logging and mining, but also heavy hunting — its loud calls make it easy to locate — and increasingly frequent cyclones.
Facts about the black-and-white ruffed lemur
- It is one of the few primates to build a nest for its newborns.
- It swallows seeds whole and spreads them far away — a true forest 'gardener'.
- Its calls boom through the forest for kilometres.
- A female may go years without breeding when conditions are unfavourable.
Data source: IUCN Red List · Lemur Conservation Network
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.