What does a ring tailed lemur use its tail for?

The ring-tailed lemur uses its tail for both balance (when walking on branches) and for communication. The stripes make them easier to spot, helping individuals keep sight of their group when standing in tall grass or brush. The males will also anoint their tail with scent from special scent glands on their wrists and armpits, then wave it at others. When a male waves his tail at a female, he may be signaling his interest in her. But, if a male does this to another male, this is called a "stink fight", which helps reduce the amount of actual fighting during the mating season.