The critically endangered primate found only in Madagascar and commonly recognized as the largest living lemur is the indri.
The indri (Indri indri), also called the babakoto, is a large, black-and-white, tree-dwelling lemur endemic to eastern Madagascar. Unlike most lemurs, it has only a tiny vestigial tail. It travels by vertical clinging and leaping, using its long, muscular legs to move between tree trunks and branches.
Indris are active during the day and usually live in small family groups. Their haunting songs and loud calls help groups communicate and defend territories. Their diet consists mainly of leaves, supplemented by fruit, seeds, and flowers.
The indri is critically endangered because forests are cleared and fragmented for agriculture, fuelwood, and logging; hunting also occurs despite cultural taboos. A useful distinction is that Madagascar once had larger extinct lemurs, including Archaeoindris. Among living lemurs, the indri is generally cited as the largest, although the diademed sifaka is sometimes described as comparable in size.