Black Lemur - Five Sisters Zoo

Individuals have orange eyes with long fur framing their faces and ear tufts. Black Lemurs are sexually dichromatic, meaning that males and females are two different colours. For this species, males are dark brown or black with black ear tufts. Females have chestnut coats and white ear tufts that connect to a white ruff around their head. All offspring are born with chestnut fur which will darken to brown or black for the males at a few months old.

Facts

Diet: Omnivores. Primary diet is fruit, nectar, flowers and seeds but invertebrates, particularly millipedes, are also a key component.

Length: Adults can measure between 30 and 50 cm but tails can add 40 to 60cm extra

Weight: 1.8-2.5kg

Habitat: Native to the forests of north-western Madagascar

Life span: 20-25 years in the wild, but can reach 30 years old under human care

Adapted to Survive

  • Darker colouration enables them to hide in trees and on the ground from predators
  • Adapted to a variety of primary and secondary forests.

Threats

  • Habitat loss due to deforestation, slash and burn agriculture, and illegal mining and logging
  • Poaching

Conservation Status

Endangered

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