Critter Science
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
indri

The Human-Like Indri

  • 1 June, 2021
  • Critterman
  • No Comments
  • 720 Views
  • 2 Likes
Daily Critter Facts, Land Mammal Facts, Primate Facts

One of the largest lemurs, the indri, aka Babakoto or ambalana, can be found between Mangoro River and Sambava city in the eastern part of Madagascar. In the 1800s, they used to be far more prevalent. Thanks to the near constant deforestation to make way for agriculture and mining, their habitat has steadily shrunk. It is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild. The IUCN lists the indri as Critically Endangered. 1 step away from extinct! Climate change is also to blame for their falling numbers. These primates exhibit almost human-like behaviors, from the way they play to how they bond.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Indri indri
Weight: Up to 19 lbs.
Length: Up to 2.4 feet
Lifespan: Up to 18 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) Unlike other lemurs, the indri has only a 2 inch long tail.

2.) They can be found in coastal and montane rainforest habitats.

3.) Indris are diurnal (active during the day).

4.) These primates are gluttons that spend up to 60% of the day eating. Like my kids.

5.) The indri is arboreal (spends most or all of their life in trees), like other lemurs.

But wait, there’s more on the indri!

6.) While on the ground, they travel by hopping sideways, with their arms in the air.

7.) Indris are highly social and live among family groups of up to 5 individuals.

Did you know…?
An indri is capable of leaping up to 33 feet, from branch to branch!

8.) A group of lemurs is called a conspiracy or a troop.

9.) Troops are matriarchal (led by a dominant female). What other critter is governed by a matriarch? If you guessed elephant, you’re correct.

10.) Males are in charge of defending the conspiracy.

But wait, there’s still more on the indri!

11.) The male will mark their territory via scent markings, secreted from their cheeks and also by urinating.

12.) They eat a variety of flowers, leaves, fruit, and seeds. This makes them important seed dispersers.

Did you know…?
Indri lemurs have a special laryngeal air sac, that lets them sing beautiful, yet scary sounding songs. They sing for up to 3 minutes at a time and they can be heard over a mile away!

13.) The primary predator of these lemurs is the fossa.

14.) Indris are monogamous (mate with a single female) and breed every 2 – 3 years.

15.) Females have a 4 – 5 month gestation (pregnancy) that yields a single infant.

But wait, there’s still a little more on the indri!

16.) These wonderful climbers have an opposable big toe on each foot that aids in scaling trees with the best of them.

17.) A powerful sense of smell afford them the ability to pick up on predators and the scents left behind from other lemurs.

18.) The indri is tied with the diademed sifaka for largest lemur.

Now a Short Indri Video!

Be sure to share & comment below! Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added frequently!

Want to suggest a critter for me to write about? Let me know here.

Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here!
arborealcritically endangeredherbivorehopindriislandlemurMadagascarpreytrees
Critterman

With over 50 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

The Lowly Dung Beetle
The Magnificent Frigatebird
Related Posts
  • Nepal house martin
    The Nepal House Martin 4 July, 2025
  • booted eagle
    The Booted Eagle 3 July, 2025
  • Wyoming toad
    The Wyoming Toad 2 July, 2025
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Guest Articles
  • BYET
  • Teachers
  • Study Guides
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.