One of Madagascar’s most charismatic and visually striking primates, best known for its dramatic sexual dimorphism—where males and females look so different, they were once mistakenly classified as separate species. Native to the northwestern tip of Madagascar and a few nearby islands, black lemurs are tree-dwelling, social, and highly intelligent animals that play an important role in the health of Madagascar’s forests.

Adult male black lemurs are almost entirely jet black, with tufts of hair on the ears and a thick, bushy tail. In contrast, females are reddish-brown or chestnut in color, with a lighter face and prominent white tufts of fur on the sides of the head, giving them a striking, wide-eyed appearance. Both sexes have bright orange or copper-colored eyes, adding to their expressive, somewhat otherworldly look.

Black lemurs are diurnal and crepuscular, meaning they’re active during the day and at twilight, though in some areas they show cathemeral behavior (being active both day and night) depending on food availability. They are highly arboreal, moving nimbly through the forest canopy by leaping and climbing. Their diet is mostly frugivorous, consisting of a wide variety of fruits, but they also eat flowers, leaves, nectar, bark, and occasionally insects or small invertebrates.

Like many lemurs, social structures are usually female-dominant, with females often initiating grooming and food sharing. Group members maintain cohesion through vocalizations, grooming, scent-marking, and visual cues. Black lemurs are also known for their wide range of calls, from grunts and squeaks to alarm barks and high-pitched wails.

One fascinating aspect of black lemurs is their role as pollinators. As they feed on nectar, especially from baobab flowers, they often get pollen on their fur and help transfer it between plants—making them some of the few known non-flying mammal pollinators in Madagascar. Their feeding also aids in seed dispersal, contributing to forest regeneration.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Madagascar

3,000-7,000

Official estimate

EN

2018