Found in social groups ranging in size from three to 25 lemurs, the females remain in their birth group throughout their lives, but males change groups when they reach the age of sexual maturity. They cover large areas, moving on all four legs up to 3.5 miles each day. The females are dominant and tend to have strong bonds with other females in their family groups, where grooming is used to establish and enforce social bonds. Lemurs are smell-oriented and often use scent to communicate, along with numerous vocalizations.

As opportunistic omnivores, lemurs primarily eat fruits and leaves, especially of the tamarind or killy tree. They can also eat flowers, herbs, bark, sap, insect cocoons, spiders, grasshoppers and small animals like birds and chameleons.

Lemurs live from 20 to 25 years. The mating season begins in August and ends around September, and gestation lasts about 4.5 months. Twin births are common if food is plentiful. The young will cling to their mother's belly for the first few weeks.

The biggest threat is habitat loss due to the destruction of Madagascar's jungles. Lemurs also have natural predators such as hawks, fossa and wild dogs.

Found in Madagascar, specifically in the south or southeast region, but can also live farther inland.