A lemur is a primitive member of the primate order of animals. (Other primates include monkeys, apes, and humans). The name lemur comes from the Latin word lemures, meaning “ghosts,” because of the silent, ghostlike way they move.

Where lemurs live

Lemurs are found only on Madagascar and the Comoro Islands off the east coast of Africa. About 15 types of lemur live in Madagascar. Most lemurs live in trees, though some types, such as the ring-tailed lemur, spend some time searching for food on the ground.

Physical features

Lemurs have large eyes, foxlike faces, monkeylike bodies, and long hind limbs. They range in length (excluding the tail) from about 5 inches (13 centimeters) in the dwarf lemur to about 24 inches (60 centimeters) in the true lemurs. The bushy tails of lemurs may be longer than their bodies. The tails are not prehensile, meaning that the lemurs cannot use them to hang from trees as some monkeys can. Their coat is generally soft and woolly.

Behavior

Most lemurs live in groups. Their diet includes fruits, leaves, buds, insects, and small birds and birds' eggs. Mouse and dwarf lemurs store fat in their rump and tail and sleep during the dry season.

Lemurs are less intelligent than monkeys, but they have a better sense of smell. They are gentle, friendly animals. Some species live in groups of ten or more. Most are active at night and sleep during the day. Lemurs usually give birth to a single young one. The baby lemur clings to its mother's underside until it is old enough to ride on her back.

Kinds of lemur

The best-known lemur is the ring-tailed lemur. This lemur is unique because it lives in the dry, rocky areas of Madagascar and because of its striped tail. The tails of all other lemurs have a solid color, so the black and white stripes on the ring-tailed lemur really stand out. The ring-tailed lemur is also the kind of lemur most commonly seen in zoos.

The largest lemur is the indri, which can grow up to 27 ¹/₂ inches (70 centimeters). It is found only in the northern part of Madagascar in the rain forests of the east coast. It has very long back legs, which allow it to make enormous vertical leaps from tree to tree. It lives in small social groups and communicates by far-ranging howls.

Survival

Destruction of their habitat for logging and farming has threatened the survival of most lemur species. A number of lemurs are considered rare or endangered animals.