Red lemur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red lemur |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
| Family: | Lemuridae |
| Genus: | Eulemur |
| Species: |
E. rufus
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| Binomial name | |
| Eulemur rufus (Audebert, 1799)
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| Distribution of E. rufus | |
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The red lemur (Eulemur rufus) is a type of lemur that lives only on the island of Madagascar. It is also known as the rufous brown lemur or northern red-fronted lemur.
For a long time, scientists thought the red lemur was just a kind of common brown lemur. But in 2001, they decided it was its own unique species. Later, in 2008, they split it into two different species. One is the red lemur (E. rufus), and the other is the red-fronted lemur (E. rufifrons). Scientists used clues from their genes and body shapes to make this decision.
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Where Do Red Lemurs Live?
Red lemurs live in the dry deciduous forests in the southwestern part of Madagascar. You can find them between two rivers: the Betsiboka River in the north and the Tsiribihina River in the south.
The Tsiribihina River is like a natural border. Red lemurs (E. rufus) live north of this river, while their close relatives, the red-fronted lemurs (E. rufifrons), live south of it.
What Do Red Lemurs Look Like?
Red lemurs are medium-sized. Their body and head together are about 35 to 48 centimeters (14 to 19 inches) long. Their tail is even longer, measuring about 45 to 55 centimeters (18 to 22 inches). They usually weigh between 2.2 and 2.3 kilograms (4.9 to 5.1 pounds).
They have a gray fur coat. Their face, nose, and forehead are black. They also have a black line running from their nose up to their forehead, with white patches above their eyes that look like eyebrows.
Differences Between Males and Females
Male red lemurs have white or cream-colored fur on their cheeks and chins, forming a beard. Female red lemurs have reddish-brown or cream-colored fur on their cheeks and chins, but their "beards" are not as thick as the males'.
Why Are Red Lemurs Endangered?
The red lemur is currently listed as "Vulnerable" by a group called the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). This means they are at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect them.
The biggest dangers to red lemurs are:
- Hunting: People hunt them, and this is happening too much, making it hard for their numbers to grow.
- Habitat Destruction: Their homes, the forests, are being destroyed. This happens because people use slash-and-burn farming, where they cut down and burn trees to clear land. Forests are also cleared for animal pastures, to gather wood for fuel, and for logging (cutting down trees for timber).
These activities make it very hard for red lemurs to survive and find enough food and safe places to live.
 | William Lucy |
 | Charles Hayes |
 | Cleveland Robinson |
