The small, tawny-coloured bandro lives exclusively in the reed and papyrus beds on Lake Alaotra, Madagascar.

Subspecies
Disputed. H.g.alaotrensis, the Lake Alaotra bamboo lemur (or bandro), is sometimes considered to be a separate species.

Life span
Unknown.

Statistics
Head and body length: 28cm, Tail length: 30-40cm, Weight: Female: 892g, Male: 939g.

Physical description
Lesser bamboo lemurs have a grey body with a variable amount of red on the head.

Distribution
They inhabit eastern Madagascar.

Habitat
They live in bamboo thickets in tropical rainforest. Bandros only live in the papyrus reed beds around Lake Alaotra.

Diet
Ninety per cent of their diet is made up of bamboo stems, shoots and leaves, and they also feed on soil.

Behaviour
Lesser bamboo lemurs are active during the day and at dawn and dusk. They are arboreal and spend most of the day feeding. They live in family groups of 3-6 and have a home range of 6-10ha.

Reproduction
After a gestation period of 137 days, females give birth to 1-2 young. They carry their young in the mouth and park them while feeding.

Conservation status
Bandros (H.g.alaotrensis) are listed as Critically Endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting for food and the pet trade. Other subspecies are considered to be Lower Risk.