About Eulemur albifrons (É.Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1796)
The white-headed lemur, with the scientific name Eulemur albifrons, is a medium-sized lemur. It has a horizontal body posture that is well-suited to its movement patterns. Its long, furry tail helps it maintain balance when it lands after leaping considerable distances. This species shows clear sexual dimorphism in coloration. Males have gray-brown upper bodies, darker lower limbs and tail, paler gray on portions of the upper body, a gray head and face, and a darker crown. Females have redder-brown upper bodies, paler underparts, and darker feet than males. Males have prominent, bushy white cheeks and beards, while females have less bushy, reddish-brown cheeks and beards. The head, face, and muzzle of females are dark gray, and females do not have the bushy cheeks that males have. The average body weight of the white-headed lemur is 2.3 kg (5.1 lb), average body length is 40 cm (16 in), and its tail can reach up to 50 cm (20 in) in length. White-headed lemurs have a maximum lifespan of 30 years. This species was previously classified as Eulemur fulvus albifrons, a subspecies of the common brown lemur. While it is very similar in appearance to the common brown lemur, genetic analysis supports its status as a distinct species. The white-headed lemur inhabits mostly moist lowland and montane rainforests. It is arboreal and spends most of its time in the upper layers of the forest. It is endemic to north-eastern Madagascar, where it is found nowhere else.
