Subfossil remains of two extinct lemur species were previously classified under the genus "Varecia". Found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar, "Varecia insignis" and "V. jullyi" were very similar to modern ruffed lemurs, but more robust and assumed to be more terrestrial, and thus more prone to predation by early human settlers. More recent studies have shown that these extinct species had a diet similar to that of modern ruffed lemurs and that they were also arboreal in nature. Enough differences were demonstrated to merit a separate genus, "Pachylemur". These close relatives of ruffed lemurs are now named "Pachylemur insignis" and "P. jullyi".