Red-tailed Sportive Lemur
Lepilemur ruficaudatus
Overview
The red-tailed sportive lemur, or red-tailed weasel lemur, is native to Madagascar like all lemurs. It is a nocturnal species feeding largely on leaves, though they also eat some fruit. Individuals weigh around 800 g (1.8 lb), and there is little sexual dimorphism.
In general they live in mated pairs, with a home range of about 10,000 square metres. Both members of the pair use the same home range, and there is little overlap between the home ranges of neighbouring pairs. Travel distances each night are between 100 m (330 ft) and 1 km (0.6 mi), making this a relatively inactive species.
This species can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.
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.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in LEPILEMURIDAE
Threatened in Madagascar
Frequently asked questions
Why is Red-tailed Sportive Lemur classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Red-tailed Sportive Lemur live?
What are the main threats to Red-tailed Sportive Lemur?
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