Lemur species. Ring-tailed lemur - a fidget from Madagascar
Lemurs are creatures that are of great interest to many categories of people. For nature professionals, animal lovers and zoos. The peculiarity of these animals is that they are endemic.
That is, they live, under natural conditions, in only one place on the planet - on the island of Madagascar and on nearby islands. No matter how many people tried to bring them to other countries in Europe and America, they did not get along there for a long time.
Lemur Habitat
The specific climate of Madagascar and the development of this civilization outside of other civilizations did their job. In general, this island shelters a large number of endemic plants and animals on its territory.
- Lemurs can also live at home, but not all species, but some of its representatives. Lemurs such as the smallest lemur of the entire family (which, by the way, does not reach 13 cm in length) live only in natural conditions, and maintaining a home seems impossible. But, for example, the ring-tailed lemur gets along well at home.
- Lemurs can be found in some zoos around the world. Not all zoos will be able to create the conditions necessary for the normal maintenance of this feline species. But some species will still be able to please adults and children in the best zoos in the world. The difficulty of keeping them in captivity lies in correctly creating for them the climate and humidity conditions of the environment in which they live in captivity.
- Also, not all types of lemurs will be able to eat the food that is offered to them in zoos. For example, certain species of lemurs feed only on special types of insects that also live in Madagascar.
- the cage should be large enough (as for medium-sized monkeys);
- the cage must contain fresh tree branches, on which he will spend most of his time;
- the bedding should be made of soft cotton wool, or better yet, soft palm leaves;
- they are very sensitive to temperature changes.
Who are lemurs
Lemurs belong to the order of monkeys. The main difference from monkeys is that their eyes, in principle, like those of Homo sapiens, are located in the center, closer to the nose. And the lemur's eyes are located on the sides. They see with peripheral vision, which is of particular interest to these animals.
Lemurs are a valuable species of animal and are listed in the Red Book for the Protection of Nature and Living Creatures. They live in herds, mostly of 30 individuals, on palm plantations and in the jungle. They feed on woody roots and roots of palm trees, vines, inflorescences of tropical plants and all kinds of insects.
Lemurs feed mainly at night, and in general, their lifestyle is more nocturnal than diurnal. They see perfectly, like the entire detachment of monkeys. This explains the nocturnal lifestyle. This is expressed mainly in the hunting of insects, which are less active at night than during the day. This is another difficulty in keeping these animals in captivity, because they most often have to be fed at night. Of course, if the animal was born in captivity, and not brought directly from its habitat, then it is still possible that you or the zoo will instill in it the habit of eating at a time convenient for you.
At home, lemurs are susceptible to various kinds of diseases, which very often become fatal for the animal, therefore, it is necessary to take special measures in a timely manner to maintain the immunity of this animal. It is necessary to vaccinate lemurs against rabies and against special diseases that they can acquire in mid-latitude conditions.
Morals of lemurs
Lemurs, despite their rather frivolous lifestyle, are quite calm animals in their way of life. Therefore, they are often preferred when there is a choice between primates and lemurs. If they live at home, then you can even let them out of the cage without fear that they will do something bad (as many species of monkeys can do). Also, they are quite adequate in contact with children, especially if they are vaccinated in a timely manner.
Despite the unpretentiousness of living in captivity of some species, they reproduce poorly in natural conditions. If in a zoo it is still possible to achieve the reproduction of certain types of lemurs, for example, ring-tailed ones, then at home this becomes an almost impossible task. The difficulty is that it is very difficult to provide two lemurs with conditions at home that are close to natural, so that they are alone and no one bothers them.
If you want to get a lemur, it won’t be particularly difficult. You just need to find a store on the Internet that sells these animals. You will find them with great difficulty at bird markets, because they do not tolerate drafts and a lot of noise around them.
Also read:Lemurs are one of the most unusual primates that attract lovers of the animal world with their unusual and even mysterious beauty. The word "" itself comes from a Greek word. In the mythology of Ancient Greece, lemurs were called night spirits.
It can be assumed that the animal lemur is so named because it is similar to the night spirit in its lifestyle and huge round eyes, which sometimes make it similar not only to the night spirits, but also to an alien creature. Lemur photo truly unusual and there is something special about them that attracts attention and enchants.
An interesting fact is that the life of this amazing animal is covered in secrets and mysteries, and for a long time scientists did not know anything about it. For example, in 1999 only a little more than 30 species were known, but now biologists are talking about as many as 100 species.
It is noticeable that research has advanced significantly and discovered new facts from the life of lemurs only in recent decades. Now there is a clear classification, which was completely different before. In the recent past, lemur-like animals were classified as prosimians, but later it turned out that this was not the case at all.
One of the most ancient primates on our earth are the wet-nosed primates, and lemurs belong to this suborder. This is explained by a number of factors and characteristics of lemurs, which are a fairly large group.
The lemur family includes representatives that are very diverse in appearance; there are very small animals, and on the contrary, there are species that include large individuals. The smallest lemurs can weigh about 30 grams, while their larger members of the family weigh as much as 10 kilograms.
Accordingly, the sizes of these lemurs also differ significantly from each other. The smallest among lemurs is the mouse microcebus, whose body length is approximately 10-13 centimeters, but the largest is Polumak, its body length is 50 centimeters. These indicators do not take into account the length of the tail, which is a unique decoration and one of the most important parts of the lemur’s body.
Lemurs, although they belong to the same family, may have their own characteristics. This is most often due to their lifestyle. Most lemurs prefer to lead an active life in the dark, but there are also those for whom daytime is more suitable for this.
The same can be said about the diet of these animals: some of them feed exclusively on vegetation, that is, they are a kind of vegetarians; while other representatives of this family have a mixed diet, that is, they eat food of different origins.
In nature, lemurs can be found on and on the Comoros Islands, this is where these animals live. Most species of lemurs are listed in the Red Book and they need protection and special treatment from people.
In the recent past, lemurs inhabited the islands completely, but over time they increasingly reduced their distribution area; now they can only be found in forested areas.
How exactly these “alien animals” appeared on the island of Madagascar remains a mystery to this day; scientists only speculate and build their hypotheses, but reliable information has not yet been found.
People reached the island about 1,500 years ago, and since then the disappearance of lemurs began. They say that at least 8 genera and 16 species of this exotic animal have disappeared from existence.
Lemurs are attractive to poachers because they have an unusual appearance, beautiful fur, they are slow and many are quite large. Currently, a large number of lemurs are under threat; they may soon disappear from the fauna of our planet.
Lemurs are quite friendly and calm, so they are often kept as pets. As a rule, many large pet stores have lemurs in stock. Lemur prices quite tall, since this is an exotic animal. Small lemur can be bought for about 80-100 thousand rubles.
However, prices can fluctuate sharply in different stores, and for individuals they generally have no specific limits. However, any animal needs care, and the same goes for domestic lemurs. For them, it is very important to have a good, spacious cage with snags and branches, which is well cleaned every day so that there is no dirt and no drafts.
Of course, you should also take care of adequate nutrition. Very appreciated among buyers lemur loris, which has a very unusual appearance and is liked by both children and adults. The price for this type of lemur is much higher than for others.
In general, it is a very big responsibility to take such a pet into your home, so if you are not confident in your abilities and financial capabilities, then it is better to limit yourself to purchasing lemur toys, which will also bring you joy.
Reproduction and lifespan
Reproduction of these unusual ones has its own characteristics. Let's look at the breeding process of ring-tailed lemurs. As a rule, females give birth to one baby during one breeding season, but in some cases two babies are born at once.
The female's pregnancy lasts 222 days; babies are born during the rainy season, this time from August to September. The babies weigh approximately 100 grams. From the first moments of life, babies are very tenacious; they hang on their mother’s fur, and this is how they spend the first months of their lives.
First, the baby hangs on the mother’s stomach, and then moves onto her back. After about 1.5-2 months, the lemur cub begins to leave its mother and make its first independent forays.
But he cannot get by on his own, so he is with his mother during sleep and feeding. Only at the age of 6 months do baby lemurs become independent and no longer need the care of an adult.
The lifespan of a lemur is approximately 35-37 years; as a rule, in an artificially created environment they can live longer if they are provided with proper care and nutrition.
Nutrition
Different species of lemurs have different food preferences. Some of them feed exclusively on vegetation, while some also include an animal component in their diet. Lemurs mainly feed on fruits, various fruits; in addition, they eat leaves, flowers, young shoots of plants, and can also feast on cacti.
Some of the lemur family add to their food, which is usually a source of protein. The main thing is that the diet is well balanced, then the lemur fully develops and grows healthy, leading an active lifestyle.
Anton Smekhov
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Lemurs are amazingly beautiful animals that belong to the group of wet-nosed primates. There are more than 100 species of these animals. The species combined into 5 families have common characteristic features and individual characteristics. We are talking about size, color, habits and lifestyle. Let's look at where lemurs live.
In ancient Greek mythology, lemurs were the name given to ghosts walking at night. Later, this name was assigned to small animals with massive eyes that caused horror among residents.
According to history, in ancient times huge lemurs lived on the territory of the island state. Their weight often reached two hundred kilograms. Today there are no such giants among lemurs.
Short-tailed indris are the largest species. They grow up to 60 cm in length and weigh about 7 kg. Among these primates there are also tiny ones. Dwarf mouse lemurs grow up to 20 cm in length and weigh no more than 50 grams. Let's look at other features of these mammals.
- The lemur has a dense, elongated body and a small, rounded head with an elongated, pointed mouth. On the sides of the oral cavity there are several pairs of vibrissae responsible for the sense of touch.
- The lemur is characterized by large, close-set, saucer-shaped eyes. The eyes are surrounded by a dark strip of fur, providing the effect of painted eyes. Therefore, the expression of the animal, even in a calm state, is something between fear and surprise.
- The rows of primate teeth have a non-standard structure. The incisors located on the upper jaw are set widely. From below, the incisors are in close proximity to the canines and are inclined forward, providing a “tooth comb” effect.
- These mammals have grasping limbs with five fingers. The toes have nails with the exception of the second toe. It is equipped with a long claw, used by the animal for hygienic purposes.
- All lemurs have thick fur. In some species it has a gray-brown color, in others it is black and white, in others it is red-brown. The ring-tailed lemur has a special color. Wide black and white stripes cover its long, spiral-shaped tail.
- A fluffy, long, luxurious tail is a distinctive feature of the lemur, which plays an important role in life. Animals use their tails to communicate and maintain balance when jumping. Only the short-tailed indri, despite its impressive body size, has a tail length that does not exceed 5 cm.
I think by now you are convinced that this wonderful animal has a truly exotic appearance. It is not surprising that lemurs are of great interest to humanity.
Habitat and habits of lemurs
In nature, lemurs are found in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. In ancient times, primates inhabited the islands entirely, but over the years the distribution area has shrunk, and now they live exclusively in wooded areas. Today, many species are listed in the Red Book, so animals need protection and gentle treatment from humanity. Now about lifestyle.
- Primates spend most of their time in trees. Using their tail as a balancer, they quickly and deftly move from branch to branch. Lemurs rest in trees, bask in the sun, and even breed offspring. If the animal ends up on the ground, it still moves by jumping, using 4 limbs.
- They sleep on branches, clasping the tree with their feet and forelimbs. Some build shelters that resemble a bird's hollow. During rest, up to 15 sleeping individuals can be found in such a dwelling.
- Almost all types of lemurs are social animals that live in their own territory. They live in family groups of up to 25 individuals, in which a strict hierarchy prevails. The team is led by a female. Endowed with power, she has several advantages regarding food and is the first to choose a partner during the mating season.
- The reproduction process also has its own peculiarities. At a time, the female gives birth to one baby, who is born 222 days after conception. During the first 2 months, the clingy cub hangs on the mother's fur. Later, the little primate makes independent forays, and becomes completely independent at the age of six months.
- The number of females and males in the flock is approximately equal. Young females after puberty remain in the maternal pack, and males often move to other families. Although lemurs are social animals, they are often found alone and in pairs living separately.
- The area of territory owned by one family often reaches 80 hectares. Members of the herd mark the boundaries of their possessions with urine and secretions, aggressively and stubbornly protecting them from encroachment by strangers. Marking the site rests on the shoulders of all family members. Primates make deep scratches on the bark of trees with their claws and mark them with the fragrant secretion of the glands.
- Lemurs use grunting sounds or high-pitched screams to communicate. Some species go into cordon with the onset of the dry period. Being in a state of low activity, the animal's body uses accumulated fat.
- Lemurs are considered long-lived. In their natural environment they live up to 35 years. At home, they often live longer if the owner provides the animal with proper care and proper nutrition.
Video information
The behavior, as well as the lifestyle of lemurs, fully corresponds to their unique and interesting appearance. It's hard to believe that these amazing animals scare the inhabitants of the islands on which they live to death.
How and what do lemurs eat
The lemur is a herbivorous primate. However, nutrition largely depends on the type of mammal. The main part of the diet is represented by fruits, tree leaves, flowers, young shoots, tree bark and seeds.
Bamboo and golden lemurs eat bamboo shoots and foliage, and the ring-tailed lemur prefers the fruits of the Indian date. Indris feed exclusively on plant foods, while the diet of the little monkeys from Madagascar includes, in addition to coconuts, insect larvae. The dwarf lemur has the most varied diet. This animal readily eats plant pollen, resin, nectar, larvae and tiny insects.
Food of animal origin plays a secondary role in the lemur’s diet. Most often, beetles, praying mantises, moths, crickets, cockroaches and spiders end up on the table. The gray mouse lemur's diet also includes small chameleons and tree frogs. The dwarf species does not mind eating small birds. It is noteworthy that representatives of the Indri species, in addition to plant foods, consume soil, which neutralizes the effects of toxic substances contained in plants.
The lemur's diet cannot be called particularly nutritious, so individuals devote a lot of time to rest. If we talk about food in the zoo, the animal quickly gets used to any food. The primate grabs food with its teeth or takes it with its forelimbs and sends it into the oral cavity.
Lemurs from the cartoon "Madagascar"
In 2005, the animated film “Madagascar” was released on the wide screen. The picture quickly gained popularity around the world. One of the main characters of the cartoon was a lemur named Julian.
Julian is a ring-tailed lemur. In its natural environment, this animal lives in Madagascar. With its body size and walking, accompanied by its tail held high, the primate closely resembles a cat.
It is noteworthy that the ring-tailed lemur has exactly thirteen stripes on its tail. This is his calling card.
In the wild, ring-tailed lemurs start their day with a sunbath. They sit comfortably and warm their bellies in the sun. Upon completion of the procedure, they go to breakfast. They eat fruits, leaves, flowers, cacti and insects.
In nature, lemurs of this species are often found. Nevertheless, the threat of extinction looms over the species. According to statistics, there are only 50,000 individuals on the planet, so the ring-tailed lemur was listed in the Red Book.
The ring-tailed lemur has recently been a favorite of tourists visiting Madagascar.
Where do lemurs live in captivity?
Many lemur species from Madagascar are endangered. This is the merit of humanity, which is actively destroying the natural habitats of these primates. Animals are also actively caught for resale. This is due to the increasing popularity of breeding as a pet.
In many countries around the world, lemurs are bred in special nurseries, where the living conditions are as close as possible to the natural environment. There are similar establishments in Russia, but there are few of them, since breeding lemurs is a costly and troublesome task, just like breeding penguins.
Is it possible to keep a lemur at home?
Lemurs are easy to tame. These small primates are obedient and do not show aggression, which is why they are so popular among exotic animal breeders. In order for the animal to be comfortable in a house or apartment, it is recommended to provide the proper conditions before purchasing a pet.
- To keep a lemur at home you will need a spacious cage or a large terrarium. It wouldn’t hurt to install tree branches or several artificial vines in the house.
- It is recommended to fill the bottom of the home with dry sawdust. The filler will have to be changed frequently, since it will not be possible to accustom a primate to a litter tray, unlike a kitten. Failure to regularly clean the terrarium will result in an unpleasant odor.
- A small box with cotton wool or dry grass will not hurt in the lemur's abode. This place will serve as a bedroom for relaxation or comfortable pastime. A small drinking bowl is also needed.
The lemur has thick fur, but despite this, it does not like drafts. It is recommended to take this into account when choosing a place to arrange the abode of an exotic pet.
Lemurs are most active in the evening and at night, so it is better to feed the animal at this time. The diet should include a variety of foods. We are talking about boiled beets and potatoes, white cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers and radishes, fruits, cereals, boiled meat and bakery products.
Lemurs also like sweets. Include nuts, honey and dried fruits in your diet. Periodically pamper the animals with crickets, cockroaches or mealworms. Insects are sold in pet stores.
Lemurs belong to the category of non-conflict animals and easily get along with dogs and cats. With proper care, your pet will not break, chew or break anything. Problems can only arise with cornices and curtains - lemurs like to climb higher and watch the events taking place from a height.
A lemur is a mammal of the primate order, suborder Wet-nosed monkeys, infraorder Lemur-like, family Lemuridae.
About 50 million years ago, at the dawn of the Cenozoic era, the first primates appeared on planet Earth. Over time, they divided into 2 groups - monkeys and prosimians. About 25 million years ago, prosimians gave rise to a group of lemurs. In those distant times, lemurs flourished, but were later driven out from everywhere by real monkeys. But there is still a place on Earth where these ancient and mysterious creatures are preserved. The magical island of Madagascar, which is often called the “Island of Lemurs,” has become the habitat of these unique representatives of the fauna.
The word “lemur” itself means “spirit of the deceased” or “ghost”. These animals with saucer-like eyes were considered ghosts because many of them are nocturnal, disturbing the silence of the tropical forest with their sometimes piercing, sometimes mournful cries. And according to local belief, the dead, or those who left people and went to live in the jungle, move into lemurs. In fact, lemurs are charming and harmless creatures.
Lemurs have thick hair of various colors, a fluffy and long tail, an often elongated muzzle, and large, close-set eyes. The limbs are grasping with well opposable thumbs. Nails grow on all fingers, only on the lower extremities one finger has a long claw, which is used by animals for hygienic purposes - with its help they care for their fur and clean their ears..
No one can say for sure how many different species and subspecies of lemurs live on the island. Every year, scientists describe more and more new species. If at the end of the 20th century 31 species were classified as lemur-like, today more than a hundred species of lemurs are known, grouped into five families.
Different species of these animals can differ significantly in appearance and size, as well as in their lifestyle. So, if the dwarf mouse lemur weighs no more than 50 grams, then Indri’s weight can reach 10 kilograms.
Nature intended that the habitats of all types of lemurs on the island are scattered in spots. Each species has characteristics of behavior, habitat and rhythm of life. Some species hang on trees all day long and slowly consume greenery, while others spend more time on the ground hunting insects and small vertebrates. Among these animals there are both diurnal and nocturnal species. Daytime ones are usually larger and brighter in color; they love to soak up the sun, lying on the branches of trees. Night wanderers awaken at dusk, filling the forest with screams, start a “marathon” and go in search of food, often covering vast distances. They are even brighter-eyed than their diurnal relatives.
Even the principles of building a lemur family differ from species to species. Some are monogamous, others prefer polygamous harem families, and still others change partners every year.
All lemurs are extremely interesting, amazing and charming. Let's talk about some types in more detail.
Indri - the “giant” among lemurs
They say that once upon a time there lived huge lemurs in Madagascar, whose weight reached 200 kilograms! Today, the largest lemur is recognized as the short-tailed Indri (Indri indri), which lives in the northeastern regions of the island. The body length of a babakoto (as the local population calls indri) can reach 90 cm; The indri's tail, compared to other species, is short - about 5 cm. The animal's muzzle is elongated and slightly resembles a dog's, the ears are large and shaggy, and the lips are red. The fur all over the body is very thick with a white-gray-black pattern, and the muzzle is almost hairless.
Lemur indriThe indri's diet consists almost entirely of leaves, some of which are poisonous. To neutralize toxins that enter their bodies, the animals periodically eat the soil.
Indri is not only the largest living lemur, but also perhaps the noisiest. If you are lucky enough to be in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, early in the morning you can hear the shrill cries of flocks of indri calling to each other, claiming rights to their territory.
Babakoto are also famous for the fact that they are the most faithful among the entire lemur kingdom. Once they create a pair, they keep it for life. Females occupy a privileged position in the family.
Lemur Vary - a plush miracle
Lemur variThe variegated lemur (Varecia variegata) is another large representative of the family. These beauties live in the rain forests of the eastern part of the island and feed mainly on fruits. They prefer to live in groups of up to 30 individuals. Matriarchy reigns among the Vars, i.e. females dominate here.
Look at the photo: the lemur's body resembles a plush toy, and its fingers are just like human ones!
And in this species, females also dominate - the leader of a group of 15-20 animals is the largest of the adults.
Bamboo lemur – a charming “gourmet”
There are three species of bamboo lemurs known to science: the golden lemur (Hapalemur aureus), the broad-nosed lemur (great bamboo lemur) (Prolemur simus) and the gray bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus).
It is not for nothing that the animals received such a name, because they cannot imagine their life without succulent bamboo, and each species prefers certain varieties. Between 90 and 98% of their diet comes from bamboo shoots, stems, seeds and fruits. It is noteworthy that bamboo shoots contain cyanide in high concentrations; for most mammals these substances are fatal, but not for the lemur - he spends almost all his time in the bamboo thickets and puts fresh leaves in his mouth, being distracted only to sleep.
The golden bamboo lemur is the rarest species. It is the size of a cat and weighs 1-1.5 kg.
Golden bamboo lemurIn the photo below, the great bamboo lemur is one of the largest species, found in the southeast of Madagascar.
Great bamboo lemurUndoubtedly, all lemurs are charming creatures, but perhaps the cutest are the gray bamboo lemurs. These little elves are found in the east and north of the island.
Gray bamboo lemurCatta is the most popular lemur
Perhaps the most famous and “promoted” lemur by popular culture is the catta lemur (Lemur catta) or ring-tailed lemur. The local population calls it "maki".
Its distinctive feature is a luxurious tail with black and white rings. By the way, another name for this lemur is “ring-tailed.” It lives in dry woodlands in the south of Madagascar. Catta is the size of a cat, but truly beautiful. The bright white muzzle is decorated with large golden eyes framed by black glasses. The belly, chest, neck and ears are completely white, the fur on the back is gray or pinkish-brown. It is noteworthy that the entire skin of the body is black.
This lemur is called a cat lemur not only because of its long and fluffy tail. The sounds that the catta makes resemble meowing and purring. But this is in a calm state. When the animal is excited or frightened, it squeals loudly and shrilly.
In many reserves, ring-tailed lemurs are practically not afraid of people and can even allow themselves to be petted. Unlike their brothers, they spend a lot of time on the ground. They can walk, leaning on all 4 limbs and raising their tail high, or they can move only on their hind limbs, holding their body upright. In addition, they are capable of making fantastic leaps while remaining upright, just like humans.
In the homes of exotic lovers, it is the ring-tailed lemur that can be found most often than others.
Little hand - the most unusual lemur
The little hand, also known as the Madagascar little hand, also known as the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a truly alien creature. Outwardly, the aye-aye is completely different from its fellow lemurs. There was a time when, due to the peculiar structure of the teeth, the baton was even classified as a tropical rodent. Scientists argued for a long time about what species this should be classified as, but in the end they came to the conclusion that this is not a rodent at all, but a special species of lemur, only slightly deviated in development from the general trunk of the group.
The slender body, approximately 40 cm long, is covered with hard, straight dark brown or black hair, the tail reaches 60 cm. The muzzle is short compared to other species, decorated with orange-yellow or greenish eyes and huge leathery ears.
Madagascar bats live in the dry forests of the western part of the island. Seeing this lemur in person is not so easy; the animal is nocturnal and comes to the ground only occasionally.
Sifaka - the most jumping lemur
Verreaux's sifaka or crested indri (Propithecus verreauxi) lives in the northern part of the island. It is also called the dancing lemur, because it moves along the ground by jumping on its hind legs, with its arms spread wide. From the outside it seems as if he is performing some kind of funny dance. In general, sifakas are absolute champions in jumping and flying. They can easily jump onto the second floor of a residential building!
Sifaka is popularly called a sun worshiper. When the sun rises, he sits on a tree branch, raises his hands and freezes. It seems as if the animal is praying to its gods. In fact, lemurs bask in the sun specifically to warm their wrists. In this place there are glands that secrete a special lubricant. Hanging on a tree, the animal leaves its scent on the bark, which makes it clear to strangers whose territory it is.
The tiniest lemur
The dwarf mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) is the smallest of the genus of mouse lemurs (you can read more about miniature lemurs). It lives in dry forests in the west of the island. The weight of the lemur does not exceed 40 grams. Look at the photo, the lemur fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, and the baby’s tail is larger than itself!
Sadly, there are very few lemurs left on our planet. Today, almost all known species have become rare and are listed in the Red Book. And the reason for the disappearance of these charming creatures was man. And if lemurs can hide in the foliage from their natural enemies in nature - hawks, then there is no escape from a person who exterminates animals for commercial purposes, and also cuts down forests and bamboo groves, depriving the animals of their natural habitat. If this continues, then the only place where these amazing defenseless animals can find shelter will be zoos.
The message about the lemur will tell you what lemurs eat in nature, provide a description of the lemur and a lot of interesting information. A story about a lemur for children can be supplemented with interesting facts.
Report about the lemur
Lemurs are the largest group of prosimians. Lemuroids are found only in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands.
Currently, the lemur-like order includes 101 species of animals. Lemurs vary significantly in size and appearance. While some dwarf lemurs weigh only 30 grams, some indris reach 10 kg. Most lemurs are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.
Lemur description for children
Lemurs have a dense, elongated body and a small, round or slightly flattened head. The muzzle of most animals is elongated and pointed, like that of a fox. The lemur's eyes are huge, close-set and often saucer-shaped. Their expression is usually somewhere between amazement and fear. The eye color of lemurs is usually red-orange, tan or yellow.
Lemurs have a luxurious, long and usually bushy tail, which plays a significant role in the life of the primate.
The thick fur of the lemur comes in different colors: some species are gray-brown in color, others have bright black and white, red-brown or red fur.
Lemur lifestyle
All species of lemurs live exclusively in forests rich in fruits and insects. Lemurs spend the main part of their lives in trees, deftly and quickly climbing from branch to branch, using their long tail as a balancer.
Most species of lemurs are active at night or at dusk; during the day they sleep in tree hollows or nests. They fall asleep in the strangest positions: tightly clutching a branch and wrapping their tail around their heads. Sometimes they sleep in pairs, forming a kind of fur ball. They sleep very lightly and can even be awakened by the buzzing of a fly or beetle. Their ears then rise, their large eyes flap their eyelids sleepily, but not for long, since these animals are very afraid of daylight.
Lemurs live in groups of 3 to 20-30 individuals, where a strict hierarchy is established. More often, the female dominates the pack, which has an advantage in terms of food and the right to choose a partner during the mating season.
What do lemurs eat?
Lemurs eat plant foods - these are tree leaves and ripe fruits, such as figs and bananas, as well as flowers, young shoots, seeds and tree bark. Among insects, lemurs can eat beetles, mantises, moths, lanternflies, crickets, spiders, and cockroaches.
Lemur breeding
Small species of lemurs reach sexual maturity at the age of 1.5 years, and female indris mature only at 4-5 years. The mating behavior of most lemurs consists of loud screams and touching their partner.
Typically, female lemurs give birth once a year. The duration of pregnancy depends on the species, and on average ranges from 2 months (in the smallest species) to 5-6 months (in large species). Usually 1-2 blind cubs are born, but already on the second day they open their eyes. Milk feeding lasts up to 4-5 months, then the lemurs become independent.
How long does a lemur live?
The average lifespan of a lemur is about 20 years.
Enemies of lemurs in nature
The main enemies of lemurs in their natural habitat are owls, hawks, civets, and snakes, for example, the Madagascar tree boa.
Most species of lemurs tolerate captivity calmly. Some become strongly attached to people, while others remain completely indifferent to them.
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