Head to head
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur vs Indri
The black-and-white ruffed lemur and indri are both Critically Endangered lemurs native to Madagascar's rainforest, but their reproduction, size, and relationship with captivity differ enormously.
| Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur | Indri | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Varecia variegata | Indri indri |
| Relative size | Smaller | Largest living lemur |
| Reproduction | Litters of up to 6, parked in a nest | Single infant, carried |
| Tail | Long, bushy | Only a vestigial stub |
| Captivity outcome | Can be kept in captivity | Never survived long-term in captivity |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered | Critically Endangered |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Rainforest | Rainforest |
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur vs Indri: common questions
Which lemur is larger, the black-and-white ruffed lemur or the indri?
The indri is considerably larger, in fact the largest living lemur species overall, while the black-and-white ruffed lemur is smaller but distinguishes itself instead through an unusual reproductive strategy of large litters raised in a nest rather than carried.
Why can the indri not be kept in zoos while the black-and-white ruffed lemur can?
The indri has never been successfully maintained long-term in captivity anywhere in the world, likely due to its highly specialised leaf-based diet and specific environmental needs, while the black-and-white ruffed lemur's more varied fruit-based diet makes it comparatively more manageable in captive settings.
How do these two lemurs raise their young differently?
The black-and-white ruffed lemur can give birth to litters of up to six young at once, parking them in a nest while foraging, while the indri instead raises a single infant at a time, carrying it directly rather than leaving it in a nest, a far more typical primate reproductive pattern.