Dominance hierarchies among miles are short-lived, and settled through stink fights and other ritualised displays. Competition is most intense during the breeding season, when it may erupt into “jump fights” – rivals leaping into the air and slashing at each other with their canines.

High-ranking miles inhabit the centre of a group, where they associate more with females than with other males. Lower-ranking individuals hang around at the periphery and often switch groups in the hope of more success.

STINK FIGHTS

During the breeding season, male ring-tailed lemurs engage in stink fights to compete for females and resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. They anoint their tails with pungent perfume by rubbing the fur against the scent glands on the insides of their wrists and shoulders. Then they arch their smelly tails over their backs and wave them, to waft the fragrance towards their rival, hoping to deter him by sheer force of body odour.

A stink fight breaks out when two males face off and start to pull their tails through these two glands. It lasts anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour, ending when one lemur backs down and flees.