FaunaHub

Indri (Indri indri)

MammalPrimateMadagascar

Indri (Indri indri), a large black-and-white lemur, clinging upright to a tree.

Indri (Indri indri), Madagascar.

Image: Christophe Germain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

The indri (Indri indri) is the largest living lemur — a striking black-and-white primate of Madagascar's eastern rainforests, with a teddy-bear face, large ears, long powerful legs, and almost no tail (unusual among lemurs). Indris are vertical clingers and leapers, bounding between tree trunks, and they live in small family groups.

They are most famous for their voices: indri families sing loud, eerie, far-carrying songs that ring through the forest canopy, used to space out groups and reinforce family bonds.

Conservation note: the indri is Critically Endangered, threatened by deforestation and hunting, and does not survive in captivity. Verify current status at iucnredlist.org.

Habitat & Range

The indri lives only in the lowland and montane rainforests of eastern Madagascar. It depends on relatively intact forest with tall trees for feeding, leaping, and singing, and its range has contracted as those forests have been cleared and fragmented.

Diet

Indris are herbivores, feeding mainly on leaves (especially young leaves), along with fruit, flowers, and seeds. As leaf specialists they have digestion suited to processing foliage, and they help disperse the seeds of forest plants. Their diet ties them closely to a diverse, healthy rainforest.

Behavior

Indris are diurnal and live in small, usually monogamous family groups that occupy and defend a territory. Their celebrated songs — wailing, sliding notes that some compare to whale song — can carry for long distances and help neighbouring families keep their distance. Indris move by powerful vertical leaps between trunks and, like sifakas, are awkward on the ground. They are central to Malagasy culture and feature in local legend.

Human Interaction & Conservation

The indri is revered in many Malagasy traditions, which historically helped protect it, but it is now Critically Endangered due to rainforest loss from logging and slash-and-burn agriculture, plus hunting in some areas. Crucially, the indri has never been successfully kept in captivity, so its survival depends entirely on protecting wild forest. Consult the IUCN Red List for current status.

More photos of the indri

An indri showing its teddy-bear ears and nearly tailless body.

Indri (Indri indri).

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Indri

How big is the indri?
The indri is the largest living lemur, roughly the size of a young child when sitting upright, and noticeably bigger than most other lemurs. It also stands out for having almost no tail, unlike the long-tailed lemurs many people picture.
Why does the indri 'sing'?
Indri families produce loud, haunting songs — wailing, sliding notes that carry far through the forest. These songs help space out neighbouring family groups (a kind of long-distance territory announcement) and strengthen bonds within a group. The eerie sound is one of the most distinctive in any rainforest.
Can indris be kept in zoos?
No. The indri has never been successfully maintained in captivity — it has specialised dietary and habitat needs that have not been met outside the wild. This makes protecting its natural rainforest the only viable way to conserve the species, which is Critically Endangered.
What do indris eat?
Indris are herbivores that feed mainly on leaves, especially young ones, plus fruit, flowers, and seeds. As leaf-eaters they rely on a diverse, healthy forest and help disperse seeds of the plants they consume.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.