Gray-headed lemur

The gray-headed lemur (Eulemur cinereiceps), or gray-headed brown lemur, is a medium-sized primate, a cathemeral species of lemur in the family Lemuridae. Until a taxonomic revision in 2008, it was known as the white-collared brown lemur or white-collared lemur (Eulemur albocollaris).^[4] It lives in south-eastern Madagascar.^[1] In 2005, satellite imagery estimates showed approximately 700 km² (270 sq mi) of total remaining habitat within its geographic range.^[5] It is highly threatened by hunting and habitat loss, and was considered to be among the 25 most endangered primates in 2006–2008.^[6] It is currently listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to a highly restricted range,^[1] and has been named one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates."^[7]

Gray-headed lemur
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Strepsirrhini
Family:	Lemuridae
Genus:	Eulemur
Species:	E. cinereiceps
Binomial name
Eulemur cinereiceps Grandidier & A. Milne-Edwards, 1890[3][4]
Distribution of E. cinereiceps[1]
Synonyms
albocollaris Rumpler, 1975[4]

The gray-headed lemur is only found in southeastern Madagascar, from the Manampatrana River south to the Mananara River.^[5][8]

Change in taxonomy

Recent genetic and morphological evidence has suggested that the former name, E. albocollaris, was actually a junior synonym of E. cinereiceps.^[1] Consequently, the common name gray-headed lemur and the scientific name Eulemur cinereiceps were resurrected to replace white-collared brown lemur and E. albocollaris respectively.^[4][9]

Previously, this species was listed as a subspecies of the common brown lemur until elevated to species status in 2001. However, genetic and field studies still support subspecies status under the biological species concept.^[5]