White-belted Ruffed Lemur Varecia variegata subcincta

The Black and White Ruffed Lemur is the largest species of Lemur and comes from a few pockets of forest on the east side of Madagascar. It is critically endangered. It is one of only two primates to build a nest in the trees, the other being its close relative the Red Ruffed Lemur. They live in female-dominated social groups.

There are three subspecies: the nominal subspecies shown on a previous page, the White-belted Ruffed Lemur from the northeast of the island and shown here, and the Southern. The White-belted has a black lower back rather than white with the usual black head and upper back divided by a white bar. All have the white "ruff" from ears to chin.

The Black and White Ruffed Lemur is critically endangered, mainly by locals hunting it for meat and by slash and burn agricultural methods destroying its remaining pockets of habitat.