Lemurs in Madagascar

Some of them sing and give you goosebumps, others dance as they move, and Madagascar is their only natural home.

Of course, we’re talking about the lemur: one of the world’s oldest living primates.

And if you want to see lemurs where they belong, you need to travel to Madagascar.

Learn all the facts and meet 7 fascinating lemur species.

What is a lemur?

A lemur is a primate belonging to the group called prosimians. They resemble a blend of a monkey, a bear, a koala, and a dog—and maybe even a little bit of a cat. Typically, they have a long tail and a cat-like face with prominent ears and a moist, often-elongated snout.

The size of a lemur can range from the tiny mouse lemur, which weighs only about 30 grams, to the largest living lemur, the Indri lemur, which can weigh up to 9 kilos. In the past, before humans arrived in Madagascar, there were giant lemurs, weighing as much as a human, such as the Koala lemur (Megaladapis), which was 1.5 metres long and could weigh up to 85 kg.

Madagascar’s ghosts

The name ‘lemur’ comes from the Latin ‘lemures’, meaning ‘ghost’ or ‘spirit’, and the lemur likely got its name due to its wide, staring eyes, its high-pitched sounds, and the fact that many lemurs are primarily active at night—just like ghosts.

Are lemurs only found in Madagascar?

Lemurs are naturally only found on the island of Madagascar and some nearby islands.

They are endemic to this region, which means they naturally exist only here.

How did they come to Madagascar?

The ancestors of the lemurs living in Madagascar today arrived on the island around 65 million years ago by crossing the Mozambique Channel between mainland Africa and Madagascar.

Since lemurs cannot swim, they likely travelled on tree trunks or similar natural materials.

And how do we know this?

This is known because fossils that have been found show that the ancestor of the lemur originates from mainland Africa—there have been no fossils found in Madagascar predating the Cretaceous period that can be linked to the lemurs living there today. This means that the lemur’s ancestors must have found their way across the channel to Madagascar, from which they have evolved into the many species that we know today (as well as those yet to be discovered).

How many lemur species are there?

There are more than 100 species of lemurs.

Some estimates suggest 111 species (in 2024), but researchers are continually discovering new species, so the exact number might be higher than that.

Where can you see lemurs in Madagascar?

You can see lemurs in most parts of Madagascar.

Most lemurs are nocturnal, so if you want to spot these unique animals, your best chance is in the evening and nighttime. However, there are also several species that you might be lucky enough to see during the day.

Moreover, approximately 98% of lemur species are at risk of extinction, which, of course, makes them harder to encounter. The best place depends on whether there’s a specific species you wish to experience.

7 lemur species you can encounter in Madagascar

With over 100 different lemur species, you’d be quite unlucky not to encounter any of them on a tour of Madagascar.

We’ve chosen 7 lemur species; some of them you have a good chance of seeing, while others you’ll need exceptional luck to tick them off your list.

Ring-tailed lemurs

The ring-tailed lemur has become a symbol of Madagascar and is perhaps the most famous of Madagascar’s lemurs – a status enhanced by the release of the animated film ‘Madagascar’, where King Julien, the leader of the lemurs, was a ring-tailed lemur.

Unlike many other lemurs, it spends a lot of time on the ground instead of up in trees.

This species is known as the ring-tailed lemur due to its distinctive black and white striped tail. Longer than its body, its tail is not just an attractive accessory, but it is also used during its so-called ‘stink fights’ in the mating season. The male rubs its tail against glands on its rear, then tries to deter rivals by wafting the tail towards them.

The ring-tailed lemur is active in both the day and night, and you can encounter it in places like the Anja Reserve and Isalo National Park.

Indri

The Indri is the largest of Madagascar’s living lemurs, weighing up to 9 kilos. It has black and white fur and is almost entirely tailless, distinguishing it from many other lemurs.

Indris can be hard to spot since they dwell in treetops, but there’s no mistaking them when you hear their distinctive calls, which can echo over long distances in the rainforest. Remarkably, their calls are sung in a rhythm otherwise used only by humans and birds, and these calls help defend their territory.

In the Malagasy language, the Indri is called the ‘babakoto’, which has a meaning similar to ‘ancestor’. The name “Indri”, however, originates from the Malagasy word for “look, there it is.” It’s believed the name resulted from a misunderstanding, as the person initially naming the species thought his Malagasy guide was providing the name when he said “Indri, Indri”, whereas the guide was merely pointing out the lemur.

The Indri is active during the day, and you can spot it along the east coast of Madagascar, for example, in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.

Mouse lemurs

Mouse lemurs are the smallest of all the primates, with some species of mouse lemurs weighing as little as 30 grams.

There are over 20 different species of mouse lemurs, many of which have only been discovered in recent years. They primarily dwell in trees, where they forage for fruit, insects, and nectar. The mouse lemur enjoys a unique pop culture status, thanks to Mort from the film Madagascar, who is a mouse lemur.

The mouse lemur is nocturnal, and you might be fortunate enough to spot them in Isalo, Andasibe-Mantadia, and Ranomafana National Park.

Bamboo lemur

The bamboo lemur is a tiny lemur, weighing around one kilo and measuring 56-70 cm.

There are several species of bamboo lemurs, including the grey bamboo lemur, the greater bamboo lemur, and the golden bamboo lemur, which was only discovered in 1987.

This lemur got its name because it’s quite a fussy eater – it almost exclusively consumes bamboo. In fact, it eats so much bamboo that it ingests cyanide in quantities twelve times higher than the lethal dose for other animals of the same size.

Several species of the bamboo lemur are active in both the day and night, and you can encounter them in Ranomafana National Park and Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, where bamboo is abundant.

Sifaka lemur

Sifakas are medium-sized lemurs with long, silky fur that varies in colour, from yellowish-white to dark brown, depending on the species.

The most widespread Sifaka lemur is the Verreaux’s Sifaka, though you might also encounter the Coquerel’s, Diademed’s, and Decken’s Sifaka lemurs.

Sifakas are famed for their impressive leaping abilities between trees, earning them the nickname ‘dancing lemurs’. They spend so much time in trees that their limbs are adapted for arboreal life rather than the ground. When they occasionally move from tree to tree via the ground, they can’t run on all fours but instead appear to dance through the landscape on their hind legs with their arms swaying slightly to the sides.

Sifakas are active by day. The different Sifaka species can be seen in different areas. You’ll find Verreaux’s Sifaka in Isalo National Park, while the Diademed Sifaka is found in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.

Brown lemurs

Brown lemurs are medium-sized lemurs measuring 40 to 50 cm and weighing between 2 and 4 kg. They have soft, dense fur that varies in colour from grey-brown to red-brown, despite their name.

Brown lemurs are social animals, living in groups of up to 12 individuals. Even their teeth are social, with a ‘toothcomb’ they use for grooming each other’s fur. Unlike most lemur species, where females dominate the hierarchy, several brown lemur species show no visible signs of hierarchy.

Brown lemurs are active in both the day and night, and you can encounter them in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.

Aye Aye Lemur

It’s unlikely that you will see an Aye Aye, but its peculiar appearance earns it a spot on this list. About the size of a cat, it has a head with large eyes and ears, a face reminiscent of an opossum, and sharp, mouse-like front teeth. It also boasts a long, bushy tail. This species is particularly famous for its extremely long middle finger, which it uses to extract insects from tree bark.

The Aye Aye has historically been persecuted by locals due to superstitions claiming that it brings misfortune and death. Thankfully, this species of lemur is now protected by law in Madagascar.

The Aye Aye is nocturnal, residing in forested areas in northwestern and eastern Madagascar, and you can spot them in places like Ranomafana National Park.

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