By far, the most endangered species of Lemur, the Common Brown Lemur is nevertheless an adorable and vociferous creature. Sociable and active, Common Brown Lemurs are a joy to watch at play, but unfortunately, this may soon no longer be possible in the wild.

Also known as the Varika, Varikosy or the Dredrikahe, what English speakers call the Common Brown Lemur is an arboreal creature, living mostly in the treetops and active during the day. Grouping together, three to 15 Common Brown Lemurs will live together, though groups of up to 29 have been noted. During the day, the Brown Lemurs will break up into subgroups of three and four, returning to the larger group at night. Unlike other Lemur species, Common Brown Lemurs do not show female dominance, a highly unusual behavior. Each group will mark off 17 to 50 acres of its own, by using their scent glands and urine to delineate their boundaries as well as being able to distinguish one from another. Brown Lemur groups exhibit social bonding through grooming, which is aided by their physiology. Each Brown Lemur is equipped with six lower teeth, which jut out from the lower jaw and these are used as a sort of comb during grooming. The Common Brown Lemur feeds on fruit, tender young leaves, bark, and flowers: a vegetarian diet. They live in the high plateaus and scattered forests of northwestern Madagascar and Common Brown Lemurs have been found on the Comoro and Mayotte Islands. Common Brown Lemurs communicate with a language all their own: an "ohn", nasal sound is used to maintain group cohesion, a territorial call that sounds like a "cree" sound is used to declare group boundaries and a "crou" sound is used as an alarm call. This means that, though sweet and friendly, the Brown Lemur might be a noisy pet. Since Lemurs are social creatures, they should be kept in groups, as they will become neurotic is left alone. The Brown Lemur needs lots of space, at least eight cubic feet of cage per animal at one estimate. Toys and sturdy tree branches should be provided in the enclosure and the temperature should be kept warm to make the Brown Lemur feel that he is still in his natural habitat. Common Brown Lemurs should be kept in captivity only by those who have prior experience with and extensive knowledge of primates and are highly intelligent friends who will require lots of attention and time.

The Common Brown Lemurs are about the size of a house cat and weight about 5.75 lbs. The male and female Brown Lemur are usually of the same coloration as well as size: Brown Lemurs range from brown to dark gray with light beards and darker faces. The Common Brown Lemur is about 20 inches long with a 20-inch long tail, and is equipped with scent glands at the wrist and throat. In the wild Brown Lemurs live 20 to 25 years.

In the wild, not much is known about the behavior of the Common Brown Lemur simply because they are so rare. Their natural habitat is being extensively destroyed to make room for coffee and citrus plantations and Brown Lemurs are severely hunted as pests in many areas. Rapidly disappearing, they are protected by law and there are approximately 140 living in captivity, in addition to many Brown Lemur breeding programs.

The Common Brown Lemur is a rare primate who requires highly specialized attention. Before owning one, you should first find a veterinarian who is very knowledgeable about Lemurs and has had prior experience with them. Because a veterinarian may be difficult to locate in your area, it is important to find one before acquiring your Brown Lemur. Set up an appointment as soon as you get your Lemur, to discuss the vaccinations necessary for animals in your locale.

In captivity, the Common Brown Lemur reaches sexual maturity at one to two years and mates only during the month of June. After a gestation period of 120 days, a single offspring, or sometimes twins will be born. For its first three weeks, the infant will cling to its mother's stomach, but at three weeks will begin to take its first steps and to eat a little solid food. By six to eight weeks, infant Brown Lemurs are independent, but are not weaned until they are five to six months old.