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What the sources say

Ring-Tailed LemurLemur catta

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Ring-Tailed Lemur profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 36 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Baumhofer 2017

Baumhofer (2017). Lemur catta (ring-tailed lemur). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysEvery female outranks every male: even the lowest-ranking female ranks higher than the highest-ranking male
The source saysAll females are dominant over all males. The lowest ranking female is still higher in the social hierarchy than the highest ranking male.
The page saysThe body is 39 to 46 centimeters long
The source saysRing-tailed lemurs have a body length ranging from 39 to 46 cm in length
The page saysFossas, snakes, and birds of prey hunt ring-tailed lemurs
The source saysPredatory pressure can come from raptor birds, fossas (Cryptoprocta ferox), civets (Civettictis civetta), domestic cats (Felis catus), snakes, and brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus).Note: civets dropped: ADW's binomial is the African civet, which does not live in Madagascar; 'birds of prey' renders 'raptor birds'
The page saystraveling as a troop helps deter predators that pick off lone animals
The source saysRing-tailed lemurs travel in groups, known as troops, to deter predators that hunt singular prey.
The page saysGallery forests, dry scrub, and deciduous forest in southern and south-western Madagascar
The source saysRing-tailed lemurs are found only in southern and southwestern Madagascar. They prefer gallery forests, forests near and following the riverbanks, but can be found in dry scrub, montane humid forests, and deciduous forests.

Source
02

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Ring-tailed lemur. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysa horny spur on each wrist gland that he uses to pierce tree branches before marking them
The source saysMales even have a horny spur on each wrist gland that they use to pierce tree branches before scent marking them.Note: source's plural 'they/them' rendered as singular 'he/them' for the sentence's subject
The page saysFemales also get first access to food and their choice of mates, which is unusual for a primate
The source saysFemales are dominant within groups, meaning females have preferential access to food and choice of whom to mate with. This is unusual in the primate world.Note: final pass: 'first pick of ... mates' was stronger than 'choice of whom to mate with'
The page saysThe ranking among females isn't a simple ladder, and daughters don't always inherit their mother's rank. One explanation is that mothers don't back their daughters in social interactions, so daughters fight for rank of their own
The source saysThe hierarchy among ring-tailed lemur females is not linear, and daughters do not always assume the rank of their mothers. One explanation for this pattern is that ring-tailed lemur mothers do not support their daughters in social interactions, so the daughters do not inherit rank but fight to achieve their own rank.Note: 'isn't a simple ladder' paraphrases 'not linear'
The page saysFemales spend their whole lives in their birth troop, while males generally change troops when they reach sexual maturity at age three
The source saysFemales spend their whole lives in their birth group. Generally males change groups when they reach sexual maturity at age three.
The page saysfemales are usually smaller than males
The source saysThe average body mass for adult males is 6 pounds (3 kilograms). Females are usually smaller.
The page saysthe black-and-white ringed tail can reach 61 centimeters (2 feet)
The source saysring-tailed lemurs' tails are ringed with 13 alternating black and white bands. ... Their tails can be up to 2 feet long (61 centimeters).
The page saysTroops gather in open patches of forest to sunbathe, sitting with their bellies turned to the sun and their arms and legs stretched wide, in a pose some call "yoga."
The source saysA ring-tailed lemur mob will gather in open areas of the forest to sunbathe. They sit in what some call a "yoga position" with their bellies toward the sun and their arms and legs stretched out to the sides.
The page saysIt exposes the sparser fur of their undersides to the sun's heat before they forage
The source saysThis position maximizes the exposure of the less densely covered underside of the lemurs to the sun, warming them up before they forage.
The page saysPopulation fragmentation, the splitting of a species into small, cut-off groups, is a major threat, mostly due to human-induced habitat loss and degradation. In some regions ring-tailed lemurs are hunted with dogs for food, and they also turn up in the pet trade
The source saysPopulation fragmentation is a major threat to these lemurs, mostly due to human-induced habitat loss and degradation. In some regions, ring-tailed lemurs are hunted with dogs for food. They are also found in the pet trade.Note: the appositive glosses 'population fragmentation' for readers aged 11 to 14
The page saysYes. Females are dominant within troops, with first access to food and their choice of mates, which is unusual among primates. Their own ranking isn't a simple ladder, though: daughters don't always inherit their mother's rank. One explanation is that mothers don't back their daughters in social interactions, so daughters fight for rank of their own.
The source saysFemales are dominant within groups, meaning females have preferential access to food and choice of whom to mate with. This is unusual in the primate world. ... The hierarchy among ring-tailed lemur females is not linear, and daughters do not always assume the rank of their mothers. One explanation for this pattern is that ring-tailed lemur mothers do not support their daughters in social interactions, so the daughters do not inherit rank but fight to achieve their own rank.
The page saysTroops gather in open areas of the forest to sunbathe, sitting with their bellies turned to the sun and arms and legs stretched to the sides, in what some call a "yoga position." It exposes the sparser fur on their undersides to the sun's heat, warming them up before they forage.
The source saysA ring-tailed lemur mob will gather in open areas of the forest to sunbathe. They sit in what some call a "yoga position" with their bellies toward the sun and their arms and legs stretched out to the sides. This position maximizes the exposure of the less densely covered underside of the lemurs to the sun, warming them up before they forage.
The page saysPopulation fragmentation is a major threat, mostly due to human-induced habitat loss and degradation. In some regions, ring-tailed lemurs are hunted with dogs for food, and they are also found in the pet trade.
The source saysPopulation fragmentation is a major threat to these lemurs, mostly due to human-induced habitat loss and degradation. In some regions, ring-tailed lemurs are hunted with dogs for food. They are also found in the pet trade.

Source
03

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Lemur. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysRing-tailed lemurs in human care have a median life expectancy of 16.7 years
The source saysFor ring-tailed lemurs in human care, median life expectancy is 16.7 years

Source
04

Duke Lemur Center

Ring-tailed Lemur. Duke Lemur Center.

The page saysscent glands on the inside of his wrists (antebrachial glands) and on his chest (brachial glands)
The source saysscent glands on the insides of his wrists ( antebrachial glands ) with stinky secretions produced by glands on his chest ( brachial glands )
The page saysWhen a rival shows up, he mixes his wrist and chest secretions and anoints his tail with them
The source sayshe is mixing secretions produced by scent glands on the insides of his wrists ( antebrachial glands ) with stinky secretions produced by glands on his chest ( brachial glands ). When the two secretions are well mixed, Jones can proceed to mark his territory with his wrist glands (which he will wind up doing here) or, if he were facing a rival, thoroughly anoint his tail for a stink fight.Note: final pass: the body never said the secretions were mixed, and 'skips the branches' was a detail the source does not give
The page saysThe two males face each other a few feet apart, repeatedly drawing their tails through their wrist glands and waving them over their heads while staring each other down. Eventually, one of them loses his nerve and runs
The source saysMale ring-tails are equipped with scent glands on their wrists which are used in stink fighting with rival males. Two males stand facing each other a few feet apart and, repeatedly drawing their tails through these glands, proceed to wave the tails over their heads, all the while staring in a hostile fashion at their rival. Eventually, one of the males will break down and run away.Note: 'loses his nerve' paraphrases 'break down'
The page saysFemales carry only one scent gland, near the genitals, and a female's scent may advertise her fertility and even how far along a pregnancy is
The source saysFemales have just one scent gland, which is located in the genital area. ... Via scent, females may advertise not only their fertility, but the presence of a pregnancy and how far along it is.Note: final pass: the source says 'Via scent', not via that gland, so the signal is no longer attributed to the gland
The page saysRing-tailed lemur troops answer to the females
The source saysFemales are dominant over all males with the alpha female forming the focal point for the group as a whole.
The page saysIn Madagascar, troops can hold up to 30 animals
The source saysSocial structure: large groups of up to 30 with one dominant female in MadagascarNote: the National Zoo page gives three to 25 and ADW (2017) 15 to 20; Duke's figure is the only one scoped to wild troops in Madagascar
The page saysAdults weigh 2.2 to 2.7 kilograms (4.9 to 6 pounds)
The source saysAdult size: 4.9 - 6 lbs (2.2 - 2.7 kg)
The page saysRing-tailed lemurs eat fruit, leaves, flowers, bark, sap, and the occasional invertebrate
The source saysRing-tailed lemurs' diet consists of fruit, leaves, flowers, bark, sap, and the occasional invertebrate.
The page saysFruit, leaves, flowers, bark, sap, and the occasional invertebrate
The source saysRing-tailed lemurs' diet consists of fruit, leaves, flowers, bark, sap, and the occasional invertebrate.
The page saysScent warfare: males mix wrist (antebrachial) and chest (brachial) gland secretions, then anoint their tails for stink fights against rivals.
The source saysin typical male ring-tail marking behavior, he is mixing secretions produced by scent glands on the insides of his wrists ( antebrachial glands ) with stinky secretions produced by glands on his chest ( brachial glands ). When the two secretions are well mixed, ... if he were facing a rival, thoroughly anoint his tail for a stink fight.
The page saysTwo rival males face off a few feet apart. Each repeatedly draws his ringed tail through the scent glands on his wrists, then waves the tail over his head while staring the other down. Eventually one male loses his nerve and runs off.
The source saysMale ring-tails are equipped with scent glands on their wrists which are used in stink fighting with rival males. Two males stand facing each other a few feet apart and, repeatedly drawing their tails through these glands, proceed to wave the tails over their heads, all the while staring in a hostile fashion at their rival. Eventually, one of the males will break down and run away.
The page saysrival males face each other a few feet apart, draw their tails through their wrist scent glands and wave them overhead
The source saysMale ring-tails are equipped with scent glands on their wrists which are used in stink fighting with rival males. Two males stand facing each other a few feet apart and, repeatedly drawing their tails through these glands, proceed to wave the tails over their heads, all the while staring in a hostile fashion at their rival. Eventually, one of the males will break down and run away.Note: vibe.reason (#692/#693)
The page saysuntil eventually one loses his nerve and runs
The source saysMale ring-tails are equipped with scent glands on their wrists which are used in stink fighting with rival males. Two males stand facing each other a few feet apart and, repeatedly drawing their tails through these glands, proceed to wave the tails over their heads, all the while staring in a hostile fashion at their rival. Eventually, one of the males will break down and run away.Note: vibe.reason (#692/#693)

Source
05

Cuozzo & Sauther 2006

Cuozzo & Sauther (2006). Severe wear and tooth loss in wild ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta): A function of feeding ecology, dental structure, and individual life history. Journal of Human Evolution.

The page saysIn riverside gallery forests, hard, tough tamarind fruit is a key fallback food (one they turn to when preferred foods run short), yet their dental enamel is thin
The source sayshard, tough tamarind fruit is a key fallback food of ring-tailed lemurs living in gallery forests ... ring-tailed lemurs possess thin dental enamel. The incongruity between thin enamel and use of a hard, tough fallback food ... ring-tailed lemurs living in riverine gallery forestsNote: the parenthetical glosses the term 'fallback food' for readers aged 11 to 14; it is a definition, not a finding of the paper
The page saysA study that re-examined the same 50 wild lemurs a year apart found an individual's tooth loss could rise by as much as 20% in that time
The source saysWhen comparing dental health in the same individuals (n=50) between 2003 and 2004, we found that individual tooth loss can show a rapid increase over the span of one year, increasing by as much as 20%.
The page saysEven so, lemurs losing teeth this fast are able to survive, sometimes helped by tamarind fruit that other lemurs have already partly processed
The source saysDespite this rapid loss, individuals are able to survive, sometimes benefiting from unintentional assistance from conspecifics, from which partially processed tamarind fruit is obtained.Note: final pass: 'Those lemurs still survive' stated the fate of the 50; the source says 'individuals are able to survive'

Source
06

Gould, Sussman & Sauther 2003

Gould, Sussman & Sauther (2003). Demographic and life‐history patterns in a population of ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Beza Mahafaly Reserve, Madagascar: A 15‐year perspective. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

The page saysOne long-running study suggests wild ring-tails may reach a maximum life-span of 18 to 20 years
The source saysWe suggest that 18-20 years may represent the maximum life-span for wild ring-tailed lemurs.

Source
07

LaFleur & Gould 2020

LaFleur & Gould (2020). Lemur catta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T11496A115565760.

The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Endangered
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Endangered (EN).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.