Question 1

True or false: Ring-tailed lemurs are endemic to Madagascar.

Accepted Answer

True. Endemic means the species is native and restricted to that region. In the wild, ring-tailed lemurs are found only in Madagascar.

Question 2

True or false: Ring-tailed lemurs use their long, striped tails for balance when leaping between trees.

Accepted Answer

True. The tail acts as a counterbalance, helping them maintain stability while moving through trees, though it is not prehensile.

Question 3

True or false: Ring-tailed lemurs only eat fruit and leaves, avoiding insects entirely.

Accepted Answer

False. They are omnivores, occasionally eating insects, spiders, and small vertebrates, though fruit and leaves are their main diet.

Question 4

True or false: Female ring-tailed lemurs are the dominant sex in their social groups.

Accepted Answer

True. Unlike many primates, females lead troops, have first access to food, and decide group movements.

Question 5

True or false: Ring-tailed lemurs can communicate using scent glands on their wrists and chest.

Accepted Answer

True. They have scent glands that produce a musky odor, used for marking territory and during 'stink fights' with rivals.

Question 6

True or false: Ring-tailed lemurs hibernate during the cold, dry season in Madagascar.

Accepted Answer

False. They do not hibernate; instead, they become less active and rely on stored fat, but remain awake year-round.

Question 7

True or false: Ring-tailed lemurs have a second tongue hidden under their main one for grooming.

Accepted Answer

True. They possess a sublingua, a comb-like structure under the tongue, used to clean fur and scrape food residue from teeth.

Question 8

True or false: A ring-tailed lemur's tail has exactly 13 alternating black and white rings.

Accepted Answer

False. The number of rings varies between individuals, typically ranging from 12 to 15, so it's not fixed at 13.

Ring-Tailed Lemur Trivia Questions