Red-tailed sportive lemur

{{Short description|Species of lemur}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Red-tailed sportive lemur

| taxon = Lepilemur ruficaudatus

| authority = Grandidier, 1867{{MSW3 Groves|pages=119|id=12100073}}

| status = CR

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Louis, E.E. |author2=Bailey, C.A. |author3=Frasier, C.L. |author4=Raharivololona, B. |author5=Schwitzer, C. |author6=Ratsimbazafy, J. |author7=Wilmet, L. |author8=Lewis, R. |author9=Rakotomalala, D. |date=2020 |title=Lepilemur ruficaudatus |volume=2020 |page=e.T11621A115566869 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T11621A115566869.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| status2 = CITES_A1

| status2_system = CITES

| status2_ref = {{cite web | url = http://checklist.cites.org/#/en/search/scientific_name=Lepilemur | title = Checklist of CITES Species | website = CITES | publisher = UNEP-WCMC | access-date = 18 March 2015}}

| image = Redtailed sportive lemur.jpg

| synonyms =

• pallidicauda Gray, 1873

| range_map = Lepilemur ruficaudatus range_map.svg

| range_map_caption = Distribution of L. ruficaudatus

}}

The red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus), 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 {{convert|800|g|lb|abbr=on}}, 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 {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} and 1 km (0.6 mi), making this a relatively inactive species. This species can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1017/S0952836904005394|title = Selection of food and ranging behaviour in a sexually monomorphic folivorous lemur: Lepilemur ruficaudatus|journal = Journal of Zoology|volume = 263|issue = 4|pages = 393–399|year = 2004|last1 = Ganzhorn|first1 = Jörg U.|last2 = Pietsch|first2 = Thomas|last3 = Fietz|first3 = Joanna|last4 = Gross|first4 = Sabine|last5 = Schmid|first5 = Jutta|last6 = Steiner|first6 = Nathalie}}

Red-tailed sportive lemurs travel in these pairs because it can be difficult for a male to produce roaming strategies and move further away from the homeland. Therefore, they typically pair up with only one female for reproduction, hence their “partner”. Additionally, these Lemurs don't typically have a strong early warning system, making it difficult for them to warn others or send a signal. Instead, they have grown to develop strong escape mechanisms for them to flee danger. Many studies and experiments have been conducted to produce this information.{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ajp.20363|pmid=17245766|title=Avoiding predators at night: Antipredator strategies in red-tailed sportive lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus)|journal=American Journal of Primatology|volume=69|issue=6|pages=611–624|year=2007|last1=Fichtel|first1=Claudia|s2cid=34229092}}{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/s10764-011-9551-6|pmid=22207772|pmc=3228940|title=Out of Sight but Not Out of Mind? Behavioral Coordination in Red-Tailed Sportive Lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus)|journal=International Journal of Primatology|volume=32|issue=6|pages=1383–1396|year=2011|last1=Fichtel|first1=Claudia|last2=Zucchini|first2=Walter|last3=Hilgartner|first3=Roland}}{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02033.x|pmid=23144523|pmc=3491675|title=Determinants of Pair-Living in Red-Tailed Sportive Lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus)|journal=Ethology|volume=118|issue=5|pages=466–479|year=2012|last1=Hilgartner|first1=Roland|last2=Fichtel|first2=Claudia|last3=Kappeler|first3=Peter M.|last4=Zinner|first4=Dietmar|bibcode=2012Ethol.118..466H }}