 This primate is found chiefly in the Kirindy Forest in western Madagascar.After its discovery in 1992 in the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar, it was initially thought to represent a rediscovery of "M. myoxinus", but comparative morphometric and genetic studies revealed its status as a new species, "M. berthae".This lemur is named after the conservationist and primatologist Berthe Rakotosamimanana of Madagascar, who was the Secretary General of the "Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherche des Primates" (GERP) from its founding until her death in 2005.