Állat
Ring-tailed lemur
A striped tail, scent and group life in a native of Madagascar.
A tartalom nyelve
A ring-tailed lemur's black-and-white tail is longer than the rest of its body. It helps with balance but is not prehensile: the animal cannot hang from it as if it were an extra limb. When a group travels on the ground, tails held high make the other animals easier to see. The bold pattern is visible among grasses and bushes too.
Ring-tailed lemurs are native to Madagascar. Compared with many other lemurs, they spend considerable time on the ground, although they climb trees well. They search for fruit, leaves, flowers and other plant parts. Different feeding places require both agile limbs and a good sense of balance.
They live in groups dominated by females. Calls, body postures and scents accompany social life. A male can rub gland secretions onto his tail and then wave it towards a rival. This contest relies on a scent signal rather than immediately becoming a physical fight.
Cleaning the fur is another important daily activity. Lemurs use specially arranged lower teeth that form a comb, as well as a specialised claw on the foot. Contact and mutual grooming help maintain bonds within a group whose members regularly meet while resting and seeking food.
Gyerekeknek
A ring-tailed lemur's tail has clear black and white bands. It is long and helps with balance, but cannot grip branches. When lemurs walk on the ground, they hold their tails up. This makes their companions easier to spot among plants.
Ring-tailed lemurs come from Madagascar. They walk on the ground and climb trees, looking for fruit, leaves and flowers among other foods. They live in groups where females hold an important position. They communicate through sounds, body movements and scent. A male can rub a scented secretion on his tail and wave it towards another male.
Lemurs also look after their fur. Their lower teeth form a little comb, and a special claw on the foot helps too. Cleaning fur is a daily activity, while grooming each other also helps maintain relationships between group members.
Kérdés: 1/2
Where do ring-tailed lemurs live in the wild?
- Elhelyezkedés
- Enclosure no. 57 on the Zoo Opole map.