Ring-tailed Lemurs are adept at arboreal travel, but are partly terrestrial and are found further into the interior highlands than any other lemur. Males have scent glands on their wrists which they rub onto their tails. They use this scent to establish dominance when confronted by other males. The length of the head and body is from 385-455 mm and the tail is 560-624 mm. Weight averages between 2.3 - 3.5 kg. Both sexes are brownish gray with whitish underparts and a distinctly striped black and white tail. The bottoms of all four feet are smooth and leatherlike and the great toe is small compared to other species of lemur.

Ring-tailed Lemurs are primarily diurnal, spending most of their waking time foraging for fruits, leaves and other vegetable matter. Infrequently, insects are also eaten.

They live in groups averaging 13 animals before births and 17 afterward. There is no clear leader overall, but females are dominant. Females also stay with the troop of their birth, while males leave to join other family groups. Mating occurs from April to June and births occur from August through October. Gestation is 136 days. Infants cling to the underside of the mother for the first two weeks and then rides on her back. Weaning takes place at about 5 months, but infants may take some solid food at two months.

They are found S Madagascar.