Size: Body length; 90-110cm, tail length; 50-65cm. Weight; 2-2.5 kg.

Habitat and Distribution: Forests and plantations on the north western tip of Madagascar and the two adjacent islands of Nosy Komba and Nosy Be.

Age: 20-25 years in captivity.

Groups and Breeding: Black Lemurs live in groups of between 2-15 individuals, with adult males and females in equal numbers, together with their dependant offspring. The activities of the group are determined by a dominant female with most activity taking place at dawn and dusk (known as cathemeral). Breeding is seasonal and either a single youngster or twins are born after a gestation of around 125 days. Young ride on their mother’s stomach for 3 weeks, then on her back and are weaned at 5-6 months. The females groom, feed and protect the young while the males’ role is unclear; it is thought that they may be involved in protecting the young. This species reaches sexual maturity at the age of two years.

Diet: Fruit, nectar, leaves and seeds with mushrooms and millipedes occasionally.

• There are 2 subspecies of the Black Lemur, one with orange eyes and one with blue. They are separated by a river and the blue-eyed subspecies is actually classified as Critically Endangered.
• Male and female Black Lemurs are very different in appearance; males are completely black, whereas females are brown with black faces and white stomachs and ear tufts.
• This species communicates through a combination of calls, scent, touch and facial expressions.
• Blue-eyed Black Lemurs are the only primate besides humans with blue eyes.
• Male Black Lemurs are actually born brown and only start to turn black after 5-6 weeks.
• Black Lemurs (especially the blue-eyed variety) are not found in any protected areas in Madagascar, and they are severely threatened by hunting, trapping and forest destruction across their entire range.