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Varecia variegata variegata (Kerr, 1792)

Scientific name: 
Scientist name: 
(Kerr, 1792)
Malagasy: 
Vary, Varikandana, Varikandra, Varijatsy
English: 
Variegated Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
German: 
Schwarz-weisser Vari
Other english: 
Pied Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
French: 
Vari noir-et-blanc
Taxa: 

Species

Identification

Varecia variegata variegata is a large quadrupedal lemur with a head-body length of 43–57 cm, a tail length of 60–65 cm, a total length of 110–120 cm, and a weight of 3.1– 3.6 kg (Morland, 1991a; Britt, 1997; Terranova and Coffman, 1997; Balko, 1998; Vasey, 2003). As its common English name suggests, the coat of this animal is black and white. The hair is black on the abdomen, tail, extremities, inner aspects of the limbs, forehead, circum-orbital area, and top of the head. In contrast, the back, flanks, rump and most of the hindlimbs are usually white. The shoulders are black and there is a thick white longitudinal band in the center of the back, the latter distinguishing V. v. variegata from V. v. editorum. This pattern may vary according to locality, and intermediate forms may exist. The coat is exceptionally fluffy, the tail is long and bushy, and the ears are lavishly tufted, or “ruffed,” with long, thick white hair. There is no difference between the sexes in size or coloration.