Males are brownish-gray with a dark stripe down the back, a dark tail and tail tip, and a lighter underside.
Females have a reddish to brown coat and a gray face.
Collared lemurs have not been studied extensively in the wild, but it is assumed that their ecology and behavior are similar to the other subspecies of brown lemur. Collared lemurs are found in southeastern Madagascar from the Mananara River near Vangaindrano south to Fort-Dauphin. Additionally, they are occasionally trapped for the pet trade. Collared lemurs occur naturally in only one of Madagascar's protected areas, but a few have been introduced into two others. Approximately 40 collared lemurs are currently in captivity in six US and European institutions.