Lepilemur ruficaudatus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The red-tailed sportive lemur faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in southwestern Madagascar. Slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production, and cattle grazing have eliminated vast areas of dry deciduous forest that this species depends upon. Hunting pressure for bushmeat consumption further compounds population losses, while the species' slow reproductive rate and small remaining habitat patches make recovery extremely challenging.
Habitat
This nocturnal lemur inhabits dry deciduous forests and gallery forests in southwestern Madagascar, preferring areas with dense canopy cover for sleeping sites during the day. The species requires intact forest connectivity to move between feeding and resting areas, making it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.
