Ring Tailed Lemur Lifespan: in Captivity? in the Wild?

(Last Updated On: May 23, 2023)

A ring-tailed lemur lifespan is momentous. The ring-tailed lemur is a long strepsirrhine primate and is the most recognized lemur because of its long, black-and-white colored tail. Ring-tailed lemur/Lifespan is in between 16 – 19 years in the wild. Captive/Wild A ring-tailed lemur may live up to 30 years in captivity. It is comprised of lemuridi, one of five lemur families, and the only member of the lemur family. Like all lemurs, it is native to the island of Madagascar.

In 2001, the oldest female recorded was 18 years old. We hypothesize that the maximum life expectancy of wild ring-tailed lemurs maybe 18 to 20 years. Female ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) were studied over a 24-year period to determine their longevity and age-specific fecundity. These estimates were based on each individual’s capabilities. In the 10-year birth cohorts, a female ring-tailed lemur’s lifetime might last up to 17 years.

Ring-tailed lemur lifespan

In the wild: 16 – 19 years
In captivity: 30-33 years

Years can represent the highest life expectancy for wild ring-tailed lemurs. We do not have any male-related data since men are regularly moving out of the population. Most of their habitat for charcoal production is being converted to land or burned.

However, ring-tailed lemurs are popular at the zoo and they perform relatively well in captivity and reproduce regularly. In captivity, ring-tailed lemurs can live about 30 years, compared to 20 in the wild.

Ring-tailed lemurs are the most iconic lemur species in Madagascar. Height: body 38 to 45 cm, tail 56 to 62 cm; Weight: 2 to 2.4 kg. Ring-legged lemurs generally survive at age 16, with the oldest ring-tailed lemurs surviving at age 33.

In the wild, women rarely live to the age of 16, whereas the life expectancy of men is not known because of their social structure. The longest males reported being 15 years old. The maximum lifetime reported during captivity was 27 years.

Life history traits (averages)

Male sexual maturity	912 days
Female sexual maturity	595 days
Weaning	152 days
Gestation	135 days
Litter size	1.1 (viviparous)
Litters per year	0.9
Inter-litter interval	365 days
Weight at birth	70.6 g
Adult weight at weaning	2,555 g
Postnatal growth rate maximum longevity residual	229%
Maximum longevity	37.3 years (captivity)