Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur - Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Classification

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is one of two species within the genus Varecia, and has three subspecies. Of the three subspecies, the white-belted black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata subcincta) is found furthest to the north, the southern black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata editorum) is found furthest to the south, and the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata) has a geographic range between the other two subspecies.

• Family Lemuridae
  • Subfamily Lemurinae
    • Genus Lemur: the ring-tailed lemur
    • Genus Eulemur: brown lemurs
    • Genus Varecia: ruffed lemurs
      • Black-and-white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata
        • Variegated black-and-white ruffed lemur (or pied black-and-white ruffed lemur), Varecia variegata variegata
        • Southern black-and-white ruffed lemur (or Hill's black-and-white ruffed lemur), Varecia variegata editorum
        • Northern black-and-white ruffed lemur (or white-belted black-and-white ruffed lemur), Varecia variegata subcincta
      • Red ruffed lemur, Varecia rubra
  • Subfamily Hapalemurinae: bamboo lemurs