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DISTRIBUTION: Primary rainforest on the Masoala Peninsula, in the northeast.
ID: Large size and red colour render it unmistakable.
VOICE: Similar to Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur: very loud and vocal.
BEHAVIOUR: Similar to Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur. Female gives birth to 2–3 young between September and early November.
WHERE TO SEE: Fairly common and conspicuous in and around Masoala NP. Sometimes in forest along the beach near the tourist lodges, but more commonly in the adjacent primary forest.
There is a large amount of variation in the pattern of black and white on the Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur. There are three different subspecies described, which some experts consider full species: ‘Variegated’ Varecia variegata, ‘Southern’ V. editorum, and ‘Northern’ V. subcincta. ‘Southern’ can be seen in Ranomafana and Andasibe-Mantadia NPs, while ‘Northern’ may be encountered on Nosy Mangabe. ‘Variegated’ is best seen in Betampona Special Nature Reserve, well off the normal tourist circuit. ‘Northern’ shows the most black, with an all-black rump and half-black hindlegs. ‘Southern’ has a white rump, and a smaller patch of black on the hindlegs. ‘Variegated’ is similar to Southern, but with a white band along its back
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