Lemurs: photos, types, description. The ring-tailed lemur is a restless lemur from Madagascar. Description and photo of the ring-tailed lemur Who is a lemur

A lemur is an animal that belongs to the class mammals, subclass animals, infraclass placentals, superorder Euarchontoglires, grand order Euarchonta, order primates, order primates, suborder wet-nosed monkeys, infraorder lemurs or lemuriformes (lat. Lemuriformes).

In ancient Greek mythology, the word lemur was used to describe ghosts that wandered at night. Subsequently, the name “lemur” was assigned to animals with large eyes, which caused superstitious horror among the local population of the island of Madagascar.

And only the short-tailed indri, despite its impressive dimensions, has the smallest tail, growing only to 3-5 cm in length.

The thick fur of the lemur can have a wide variety of colors: some species have a protective gray-brown color, others have bright black and white, red-brown or red fur. The ring-tailed lemur has a special coloration - its long, spiral-curved tail is decorated with wide black and white stripes.

Where do lemurs live?

Millions of years ago, the ancestors of modern lemurs lived on the African continent, but as a result of a break that occurred 165 million years BC. e., part of the population was isolated on the island of Madagascar and nearby islands, where the animals survived and formed a unique island fauna.

Lemurs have long been successfully kept in zoos around the world, where primates easily adapt to life in enclosures and reproduce well. But in natural conditions, lemurs live exclusively on the island of Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, which are a unique zone containing a concentration of many endemic species of different representatives of flora and fauna.

Lemurs have mastered almost all the natural biotopes of the island of Madagascar: different species of these primates live in the jungles of the tropical monsoon climate in the east of the island, in the forests of the northeastern and southern parts, in the temperate maritime climate of its central regions and in arid forests near the western coast.

The taxonomic classification of lemurs has not yet been determined and is controversial. There are several classifications, which are presented in the table below.

The primate loris, which also belongs to the suborder of the great-nosed monkeys, is often called the "lemur loris", although this definition is imprecise.

Despite the fact that the final classification has not yet been determined, most scientists are of the opinion that the lorisiformes are a separate infraorder that is not related to the infraorder lemurs (lemuriformes).

Types of lemurs, photos and names

Initially, the lemur-like infraorder consisted of 31 species, but in 2008 it increased significantly, and today 5 families unite 101 species of lemurs. Molecular genetic studies of these animals are still ongoing, so over time the number of species may increase.

Each family of lemurs has certain characteristics.

Family Daubentoniidae

Includes only one type - Madagascan hand-footed,ah-ah or aye-aye ( Daubentonia madagascariensis) . This is the largest of the nocturnal lemurs. The mammal is nocturnal and rarely descends from the trees to the ground. The size of the arm is about 30-40 cm with a body weight of no more than 2.4-2.8 kg, and the fluffy tail of this lemur grows to 45-55 cm. The body of the animal is covered with fluffy black-brown fur with dense undercoat. The Madagascar monkey has a round head with a short, wide muzzle, orange-yellow eyes and very large ears, shaped like wide spoons. The forelimbs of the arm are shorter than the hind limbs and are equipped with long fingers. The middle fingers of the front paws are especially long, thin and hairless, adapted for catching insects from under tree bark and pushing them into the throat. Unlike other lemurs, the thumb on the hands of the hand is practically not opposed to the rest. The mammal's big toes have flat nails, and the other toes have claws. The hand-footed fish has a very unusual tooth structure: their incisors are especially large and curved. Having replaced milk teeth, animals lose their fangs, but their incisors grow throughout their lives. Due to this feature, these primates were initially classified as members of the rodent order, but later it was found out that this is a specific type of lemur, which slightly diverged during evolution from the main group. Little arms inhabit the dry forests of the western and northwestern parts of Madagascar, as well as tropical forests on the east coast of the island. The Madagascar bat is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

Family of dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleidae)

The family includes 5 genera, formed by 34 species, and unites the smallest primates, resembling rats and mice in size. The average length of adult lemurs is about 15-20 cm with a body weight of 24 to 500 grams. Dwarf lemurs live in the crowns of trees, climbing branches like squirrels, and can sometimes be seen in reed beds. Miniature primates are active at night. Below is a description of some types.

• Dwarf mouse lemur ( Microcebus myoxinus)

The smallest representative of the genus of mouse lemurs (lat. Microcebus), as well as one of the smallest primates, its diminutiveness rivals only the pygmy marmoset. The size of the animal resembles a large mouse: the length of the lemur is only 18-22 cm, including the tail, and the weight barely reaches 24-38 (50) g. The tail, which is half the length of the body, is very thick at the base. The back of this primate is distinguished by a reddish-brown color, the color of the belly is creamy-white. The dwarf mouse lemur has a short muzzle, and its eyes are surrounded by dark rings, making them appear especially large. The animal's ears are mobile, leathery and almost completely bare. The calcaneal and navicular bones of the legs are very long, thanks to which the babies move by jumping, like squirrels. The dwarf mouse lemur is omnivorous and feeds at night, and its diet consists of fruits, leaves, pollen, plant juice and nectar, as well as small insects and their larvae. The lemur lives in the dry forests of western Madagascar.

• Rat lemur, aka rat maki ( Cheirogaleus major)

A species of small primates, growing in length from 20 to 25 cm. The body weight of adult mammals is 140-400 g. The rat maquis has a very long and thick tail, growing from 20 to 28 cm. The body of the lemur is covered with thick, dense hair, with the exception of the ears , on which short, sparse hairs grow. The animals' eyes are large, surrounded by black circles and equipped with a tapetum - a special choroid that allows them to see in the dark. The base fur coloration is rat-like and can be gray or reddish brown, with a light yellow patch of fur on the rump. Rat lemurs, like mouse lemurs, fatten and hibernate, which is not typical for most primates. Lemurs feed on various vegetation: fruits, leaves and flowers, as well as nectar and small insects. Rat lemurs spend almost their entire lives in trees. The species is distributed from Taolnaro in the southern part of its habitat to the northernmost point of Madagascar. The population is also found in the west central part of the island. Rat lemurs are not found above 1800 meters above sea level.

Family of lepilemurs or slender-bodied lemurs (Lepilemuridae)

Includes animals of medium size, with a body length of about 30 cm and a tail of the same length. Primates have a relatively slender build, and lemurs usually weigh no more than 1.2 kg. In nature, slender-bodied lemurs lead a predominantly nocturnal, arboreal lifestyle. The family includes 1 genus of lepilemurs (thin-bodied lemurs) (lat. Lepilemur), uniting 26 species. Below is a description of several varieties of lemurs.

• Northern slender-bodied lemur ( Lepilemur septentrionalis)

One of the smallest species of the family with a body size of about 28 cm and a tail growing up to 25 cm. The weight of the lemur is no more than 700-800 g. A distinctive feature of the representatives of the species are small ears and an almost entirely plant-based diet. These primates have a grayish-brown base coat color, a dark brown crown, a pale brown tail, and a stripe of dark gray fur running from the top of the head and along the back. Northern slender-bodied lemurs eat foliage, flowers and fruits of plants. The lemur's habitat is fragmented in the northernmost part of Madagascar, north of the Irodo (Irudu) River, in forested areas near the villages of Madirube and Ankarungana, which belong to the Sahafari region. Animals are also found near the small mountain range of Andrahuny, which is located 30 km from the capital of the Diana region - in the city of Anceranana, at an altitude of up to 300 m above sea level.

• Small-toothed lemur ( Lepilemur microdon)

It has a size of 25 to 29 cm and a thick tail about 24-30 cm long. The body weight of adult individuals reaches 0.9-1.2 kg. The lemur's fur on its back, shoulders and forearms is colored red-brown, with a strip of dark fur running along its spine. Representatives of the species are solitary nocturnal animals that live in tropical rainforests in the southeast of Madagascar. The lemur feeds on leaves, flowers and juicy fruits.

Lemur family (Lemuridae)

Includes the most famous and studied species. The size of primates, depending on the species, varies from the size of a large mouse to a big cat. The family includes the most common ring-tailed lemur, the crowned lemur with a characteristic dark marking on its head, as well as vary lemurs - one of the most beautiful primates. Many lemurs are active both day and night, and also spend more time on the ground than members of other families. The family includes 5 genera, including 21 species. Below is a description of several species of lemurs from this family.

• , aka ring-tailed lemur or katta ( Lemur cat a)

The most recognizable member of the family, as well as the only species of the genus Lemur. Some scientists classify the primate as belonging to the genus of common lemurs (Latin: Eulemur) or gentle lemurs (Latin: Hapalemur). The local population calls this primate maki. The size of the ring-tailed lemur really resembles a cat: adult individuals grow to 39-46 cm in length with a body weight of about 2.3-3.5 kg. Their luxurious striped tail reaches a length of 56-63 cm and makes up about 1/3 of their body weight. The lemur's tail is decorated with black and white stripes and is always curved in some kind of spiral, playing a very important communicative role in primate communication, for example, during specific “smelly fights” started by males. Lemurs smear their luxurious tails with odorous secretions from their armpits and point them towards a competitor, thus determining their position in the hierarchy and using them to protect their personal territory from the encroachments of strangers. The legs and back of ring-tailed lemurs are gray in color, but there are individuals with pinkish-brown fur. The head and neck of the animals are intense gray. The belly and limbs are lighter, the muzzle and the inner surface of the legs are pure white. The eyes are surrounded by circles of black wool. The ring-tailed lemur climbs trees less than other representatives of the order, preferring to walk on the ground, which is caused by adaptation to particularly arid biotopes. Ring-tailed lemurs are diurnal and particularly social animals, living in close groups of 20-30 individuals. The diet of these primates consists of various vegetation, including cacti, and small insects (extremely rare). Ring-tailed lemurs are confined to forests and dry, open landscapes in the southern and southwestern parts of the island of Madagascar - from Taolnaro in the southeast to Morondava in the west and north as far as Ambalavao. A small part of individuals lives on the southeastern plateau of the Andringitra granite mountain range, which is located in the National Park of the same name. According to experts, today the population of ring-tailed lemurs numbers about 100 thousand individuals, but due to the extermination of these primates for commercial purposes, the species has been assigned the status of close to vulnerable.

• (lemur macaco) (Eulemur macaco)

A species of primates from the genus of common lemurs, whose representatives are distinguished by a fairly large body, growing from 38 to 45 cm in length. The weight of the lemur is about 2-2.9 kg. The length of the mammal's tail exceeds the length of the body and usually reaches 51-64 cm. These primates have pronounced sexual dimorphism, consisting in body coloring. The fur of males is completely black, but in daylight it is reddish-brown or brown. The back and limbs of females are colored brownish-chestnut, and the belly can be light brown or grayish. The head and muzzle are usually dark gray. Individuals of both sexes have bushy tufts of hair protruding from their ears: females have white tufts, males have black ones. The activity of the black lemur depends on the time of year and the phases of the moon: during drought and during the new moon, animals are especially passive; the peak activity of these primates occurs during the rainy season and the full moon. These are animals that are active during the day and at dusk. The diet of the black lemur also depends on the time of year, and during drought, nectar becomes the main food of the animals. The rest of the time, these primates are omnivores and consume mainly flowers and ripe fruits, as well as insects, their larvae and centipedes. Black lemurs are found in the forests of northwestern Madagascar, as well as on the nearby islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Komba.

• Brown lemur ( Eulemur fulvus)

A species of primate from the genus of common lemurs. This is a fairly large animal, its size is 38-50 cm, tail length is 50-60 cm. The lemur weighs 1.9-4.2 kg. The main color of this primate is brown or grayish-brown, the crown and face are a more intense black-gray color with visible markings above the eyes. The cheeks, chin and ears are gray-brown. The eyes are orange-red. Brown lemurs are social and predominantly diurnal animals, but during periods of drought and the full moon they are active around the clock. Lemurs' food includes ripe fruits, leaves and flowers; to a lesser extent, various invertebrates are eaten. Representatives of the species practice geophagy (earth-eating) and consume red clay, earth and tree bark. Also, the brown lemur is more resistant to toxic substances that enter the body with food than all its relatives. The brown lemur lives in a wide variety of biotopes: lowland and mountain rainforests, arid deciduous and damp evergreens. These primates spend most of their lives in the dense canopy of trees. The habitat of lemurs is in the western part of Madagascar north of the Betsibuka River, as well as in the east - north of the Manguru River. A small population inhabits the island of Mayotte (Maore), but, apparently, brown lemurs were introduced there.

• Blue-eyed lemur, aka Sclater's black lemur ( Eulemur flavifrons)

A representative of the genus of common lemurs with blue eyes, uncharacteristic for these animals. The body length of adult individuals is about 39-45 cm with a weight of 1.8-1.9 kg, the tail grows to 51-65 cm. The blue-eyed lemur is a close relative of the black lemur: males of the species are the same black, and the fur of females is red-brown color. These primates are omnivores and feed on a variety of vegetation, and also do not disdain small insects. The blue-eyed lemur lives in the northwestern part of the island of Madagascar.

• Lemur vari ( Varecia variegata)

One of two species of the genus Varecia, which are the largest and most beautiful extant representatives of the infraorder Lemuridae. The dimensions of an adult lemur are 51-56 cm in length, tail length is 56-65 cm, and weight can reach 3.3-4.5 kg. The thick and fluffy fur of the Var is colored in contrasting black and white tones: the main coat color is white, only the tail, belly and inner surface of the legs are black. The elongated muzzle of the primate is also black, and short light hair grows around the eyes. The animal's muzzle is decorated with a thick, thick white beard, growing right up to the ears, barely noticeable from under the thick fur. An interesting feature of the species are lemurs that are colored exactly the opposite: these are black individuals with white legs, tail and belly. The black-and-white ruffed lemur leads a predominantly arboreal lifestyle in rain forests, where it feeds on a variety of vegetation. Vary lemurs live in the eastern part of the island of Madagascar, located no higher than 1200 m above sea level.

• Red vari ( Varecia rubra)

The second species of the genus Vari, with the same large body up to 50 cm long and a luxurious tail growing up to 60 cm in length. The red lemur weighs about 3-4 kg. Females are usually slightly larger than males. The body of the red vary is distinguished by thick red fur, and the head, tail, abdomen and tips of the legs are colored black. Lemurs live in tropical rainforests, where they feed on young shoots, leaves and fruits of plants. They lead a predominantly diurnal, arboreal lifestyle. A distinctive feature of both types of lemurs is multiple births, which is uncharacteristic of other lemurs. Females of these primates are capable of bearing 5-6 cubs, although usually 2-3 are born. These animals inhabit a small area of ​​about 4 thousand km2 exclusively in the Masoala National Park, located in the northeastern part of Madagascar.

Indriidae family

Includes animals that vary significantly in size: the smallest members of the family, avagis, or woolly lemurs, barely grow to 30 cm, and the largest lemur, the short-tailed indri, can reach a length of 70 cm. A distinctive feature of the indriids is their muzzle, completely devoid of hair. cover. Among the indriids there are both diurnal and nocturnal animals, in any case spending most of their time in trees. The family consists of 3 genera, which include 19 species, some of which are described below.

• Indri, aka short-tailed indri or babakoto (Indri indr i)

The only representative of the genus Indri (Latin: Indri) and the largest lemur in the world. The size of adult individuals is about 50-70 cm with a body weight of 6 to 7.5 kg. Compared to other lemurs, the babakoto's tail is very short and barely grows to 4-5 cm. The primates' muzzle is practically devoid of vegetation, but their ears are large and shaggy. Thanks to its elongated muzzle, slightly reminiscent of a dog, and its voice, reminiscent of a dog's bark, the indri was nicknamed the forest dog by the island population. The fur color of the indri lemur is represented by a combination of black, white and gray: the head, back and ears are usually black in all individuals, but the lemurs of the southern population are light in color, and the inhabitants of the north of the range are much darker. Indris are predominantly arboreal primates and the most diurnal of all lemurs, preferring to sunbathe while reclining on tree branches or sitting on the ground with their front legs extended towards the sun. Indri lemurs feed mainly on tree leaves; animals consume fruits and flowers to a lesser extent. Periodically, lemurs eat soil, which helps digest toxins that enter the body from the foliage of poisonous plants. Indris are common in rain forests located no higher than 1800 m above sea level, in the northeastern regions of the island of Madagascar.

• Sifaka Verro, aka crested sifaka or crested indri ( Propithecus verreauxi)

This is a lemur from the genus Sifaka (propithecus, crested indri) (lat. Propithecus). The length of an adult can reach 42-45 cm (excluding the tail), the weight of females is about 3.4 kg, male lemurs usually weigh about 3.6 kg. The fluffy tail of Verreaux's sifaka reaches a length of 56-60 cm. These primates have a flattened skull and a particularly short and wide muzzle, and their sternum is much wider than that of other lemurs. The hind limbs of the mammal are much longer than the front ones; animals move vertically on the ground. Verreaux's sifaka lemur is distinguished by its overall white fur coloration with darker areas on the head, sides and forelimbs. These mammals are active during the day and lead an arboreal lifestyle, living in both wet and dry forests across a large area of ​​the island of Madagascar. Animals feed mainly on low-tannin leaves, flowers, ripe fruits and tree bark.

Family Archaeolemuridae(is extinct)

Megaladapis family(is extinct)

Family Paleopropithecus(is extinct)

Lemur lifestyle

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. Although there are species that spend a lot of time on the ground (ring-tailed lemur, ruffed lemur, red-bellied lemur). Primates lie in the branches of trees, basking in the sun, and set up their lairs, where they rest and breed. Jumping from tree to tree, lemurs are able to cover considerable distances. For example, the jump of a Verreaux sifaka is about 9-10 meters. On the ground, these wet-nosed primates also move by jumping, using 4 or less often 2 limbs, which depends on the type of animal.

Most species of lemurs are social and territorial animals, living in family groups of 3 to 20-30 individuals, where a strict hierarchy is established. In almost all lemurs, the female dominates the flock; she has an advantage in terms of food and the right to choose a partner during the mating season. The flock consists of males and females in approximately equal numbers, but young females, having become sexually mature, usually do not leave the mother flock, but males often go to other groups. However, even among representatives of the most social lemur family, some individuals lead a solitary lifestyle, others live in pairs or form large family groups.

Typically, a family owns a territory ranging from 6 to 80 hectares, carefully marked with secretions and urine. Members of the herd jealously and aggressively protect their possessions from the encroachments of strangers and walk around the territory every day in search of food. Both females and males engage in marking of areas: the animals scratch the tree bark with their sharp nails and smear the trees or soil with the odorous secretion of the glands.

Primates communicate with each other using grunting or purring sounds, and sometimes screaming shrilly. During the dry season, some species of lemurs (for example, dwarf lemurs) fall into torpor. During this period, they do not eat, but at the same time their body uses up the fat stored for such cases.

How does a lemur sleep?

Crepuscular species of lemurs feed at night and sleep during the day among the foliage or in their hiding places, curled up into a ball. Often 10-15 individuals sleep in tree hollows at once. Some lemurs (for example, the short-tailed indri or Verreaux's sifaka) like to sleep directly on a branch, tightly grasping it with their forelimbs and feet, lowering their head between their knees, and wrapping their tail around their body.

What do lemurs eat?

The lemur is primarily a herbivore, but food depends on the type of primate. Most of the animals' diet consists of tree leaves and ripe fruits, such as figs and bananas, as well as flowers, young shoots, seeds and tree bark. The golden lemur and the great bamboo lemur feed on the leaves and shoots of the giant bamboo. Although it should be noted that the pulp, leaves and young shoots of bamboo are also eaten by some other species of these animals, for example, gentle lemurs, which, by the way, feed only on this plant. Ring-tailed lemurs are very fond of the fruits of the Indian tamarind (Indian date). Indris and sifakas prefer exclusively plant foods. Madagascar bats eat insect larvae and fruits (mangoes, coconuts). Nectar, resin, pollen and plant juices play an important role in the diet of dwarf lemurs; they also feed on small insects, their larvae and secretions. But still, insects and invertebrates are of secondary importance for many species of lemurs.

Among insects, animals mainly hunt beetles, and also eat praying mantises, moths, lanternflies, crickets, spiders, and cockroaches. Some species, such as the gray mouse lemur, eat small vertebrates: tree frogs and chameleons. The Cockerel's dwarf lemur also eats small birds and their eggs. And representatives of the Indriaceae family, in addition to plant foods, eat earth, which neutralizes the toxic substances of plants.

Lemurs compensate for their not particularly nutritious diet with long periods of rest. However, these primates are omnivores and in zoos they quickly become accustomed to any diet. They grab food with their teeth or take it with their front paws and put it in their mouth.

Lemur breeding

The rut of each species of lemur is confined to a specific season. For example, the mating season of dwarf lemurs lasts from December to May, indrius lemurs breed in the spring, lepilemurs - from May to August. 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.

Representatives of the Indriidae family form strong monogamous pairs, and only in the event of the death of the male does the female find another partner. In other families, gender relationships are both monogamous and polygamous.

Typically, female lemurs give birth to offspring once a year, only Madagascar bats reproduce extremely slowly and give birth once every 2-3 years. The duration of pregnancy in different species of lemurs varies greatly and on average ranges from 2 months (in the smallest species) to 5-6 months (in large species). Usually 1-2 cubs are born, and only lemurs are capable of producing offspring in quantities of up to 4-6 cubs. Lemur cubs are born blind, but open their eyes on the second day.

The weight of newborn dwarf lemurs is only 3-5 grams; in larger species, the weight of cubs at birth ranges from 80 to 120 grams. As soon as they are born, small, gentle lemurs hang on the mother’s belly, grabbing her fur with tenacious limbs, or the female can carry her cubs in her mouth. Baby mouse lemurs spend the first 2-3 weeks in nests or tree holes. The cubs of ring-tailed and common lemurs climb onto the back of the mother, who carries them on herself.

Other species (for example, the moth) do not climb onto the mother’s back, but remain in the nest under the supervision of the father. In some species, two-month-old cubs already make short forays from the nest, returning to their mother only to eat and sleep. Milk feeding lasts up to 4-5 months, then the baby lemur is weaned and becomes independent.

Taken from the site: goodnewsanimal.ru

How long do lemurs live?

The exact lifespan of some species of lemurs in nature has not yet been clarified, but on average, lemurs live about 20 years. Ring-tailed lemurs are long-livers, capable of living from 34 to 37 years.

Enemies of lemurs in nature

Despite their sufficient agility and the fact that lemurs spend most of their time in the canopy of trees, they often become prey to predators. The main enemies of lemurs in their natural habitat are owls (Madagascar long-eared owl and barn owl), hawks, civets, snakes, for example, the Madagascar tree boa. Lemurs are also hunted by predatory mammals, such as ring-tailed and narrow-striped mungos, as well as fossa - endemic representatives of the Madagascar civet family; lemurs are often attacked by domestic dogs and mongooses. According to statistics, every year about 25% of mouse lemurs die from attacks by predators (among other species this figure is lower), however, such population losses are very quickly restored due to the rapid reproduction of these primates.

Conservation status of lemurs

Currently, all lemurs have been assigned protected status, most of them are considered endangered species. Some species, notably the northern slender-bodied lemur, are included in the list of the 25 most vulnerable primates. Some species of lemur-like animals are exterminated for commercial purposes, while others suffer due to intensive deforestation of tropical forests.

Lemur at home: maintenance and care

Lemurs are quite easy to tame, they are not aggressive and docile, so they often become pets among connoisseurs of exotic animals. In order for a lemur to feel as comfortable as possible in captivity (in an apartment or in a house), it needs to be provided with proper care. Before getting a lemur, you should definitely study the information on how to properly care for this animal and what to feed it.

The cage or terrarium for the lemur must be spacious, because in the new home you will have to place tree branches or even hang artificial vines on which the animal will happily climb. The bottom of the cage or terrarium should be covered with sawdust, which must be replaced periodically, since it will not be possible to train a lemur to a tray, and in the absence of regular cleaning in its housing, the cage and the animal itself will smell unpleasant. In the lemur’s house, you can build some semblance of a separate “bedroom” in the form of a box, lined with well-dried hay or natural cotton wool - in this place the animal will rest and can hide if it wants to be alone. There must be a container of drinking water in the lemur's home. Despite their thick fur, lemurs are heat-loving and cannot tolerate drafts at all: take care of this when you choose a place to install your pet’s house.

What to feed your pet lemur?

Typically, lemurs are awake in the evening and all night, so they should be fed at this time. Do not be alarmed if the animal refuses to eat during the day and, especially, do not try to force feed it. The lemur's diet can include quite a variety of products of animal and plant origin. Here's what you can feed your lemur at home:

• boiled beets and potatoes;
• steamed white and cauliflower;
• lettuce and sorrel;
• cucumbers, turnips, carrots, radishes;
• various fruits, including citrus fruits;
• cereal porridges without adding oil;
• cottage cheese and hard-boiled or raw eggs;
• boiled meat and fish (not bony);
• bread (both white and black);
• milk and even kefir (occasionally and in small quantities).

Lemurs have a big sweet tooth, so the diet can be supplemented with boiled dried fruits, nuts and honey, which is dissolved in a bowl of drinking water. Lemurs eagerly eat all kinds of living creatures: crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, and will not refuse newborn mice. Such delicacies can be purchased at pet stores.

Compatibility of the lemur with other pets

The lemur is a completely non-conflict animal and gets along very easily with cats, dogs and other domestic inhabitants. Unlike other primates, lemurs do not crush, gnaw or break anything if they find themselves outside their house. The only problem may arise with curtains and window curtains: lemurs love to climb to great heights with the help of tenacious fingers and watch what is happening from there.

With proper care in captivity, a lemur can live for about 20 years, delighting owners with its interesting behavior and unusual appearance.

Taken from: abc7chicago.com

• The vocal range of lemurs includes 12 different sounds with which these primates communicate with each other, with some sounds propagating at the ultrasound level. For example, at dawn a pair of indris starts a special song that can be heard at a distance of up to 2 km.
• Females and males of some lemur species often offer hygiene services to each other in return for some kind of reciprocal favor, such as similar fur cleaning. And during the mating season, mating is offered as a reward for cleaning the fur.
• The Malagasy people (the main population of the Republic of Madagascar) still have a superstitious fear of lemurs, especially the lemur. According to the aborigines, a person who kills this primate will certainly die within a year. Scientists still do not know what the name of the little arm sounds in the local dialect, because it is never pronounced out loud.
• In the popular cartoons “Madagascar” and “Penguins of Madagascar”, a little hand named Maurice is one of the most striking characters.
• At home, they mainly keep other wet-nosed primates from the infraorder Lorisiformes. Lemurs are tropical inhabitants, so it is quite difficult to create suitable conditions for animals in an apartment. These primates are sensitive to drafts and quickly catch colds. In addition, the lemur's diet must be strictly balanced: animals are susceptible to allergic reactions and gastrointestinal diseases.

Madagascar is sometimes called Lemuria. Here you can find 99 species and subspecies of lemurs, of which 39 were discovered quite recently, between 2000 and 2008. Lemurs have round, often very large and glowing in the dark eyes, an elongated muzzle, long, but not tenacious, as is the case with monkeys , tail, short front legs (they jump on two hind legs). They have a shrill voice, similar to the cry of a capricious child. At night, loud “lemur concerts” are heard in the forests. Lemurs live in flocks in trees, feeding on insects and fruits.

In Madagascar and neighboring islands, the population considers lemurs to be sacred animals. There is a legend that once upon a time, lemurs were people, and then, living in the forest, they grew hair and turned into animals. When some careless lemur falls into a trap, the Malagasy will certainly free it and release it, and if the lemur is injured, it will heal it. Seeing a lemur in the forest, a peasant or hunter ceremoniously bows to him and greets him as if he were a close relative.

This family includes the mouse lemur - the smallest representative of primates (12 - 13 cm in length), vri (reaching a length of 100 - 115 cm), as well as catta, mongo, etc. These agile, mobile animals live mainly in trees in family groups, They feed on fruits, insects, and are nocturnal. Another family, the indri, includes the short-tailed indri, the shaggy indri and the crested indri, or sifaka. In addition, here you can find a strange creature with very tenacious forelimbs - the little arm.

Aye-aye (aye)

Aye-aye (aye), or Madagascar little hand - Daubentonia madagascariensis- the largest representative of nocturnal primates. It has a brown color with white speckles and a large fluffy tail. A feature of the aye-aye that immediately catches your eye is the third toe on the forelimbs. The animal combs its fur with this finger and uses it for drinking, extracting and consuming food. Experiments by scientists have shown that bats, like bats, use echolocation when searching for food. The third finger of the aye-aye catches the sound waves that arise and spread through the thickness of the tree when tapped - in this way the animal tries to detect the movement of the larvae in the wood.

Ring-tailed lemur or ring-tailed lemur

Ring-tailed lemur or ring-tailed lemur - Lemur catta- the most famous species from the lemur family. This is the symbol of the island of Madagascar. The tail of the ring-tailed lemur is the main pride of this animal. If the lemur's body reaches approximately 40 cm in length, then the tail is only 55 centimeters! The Madagascan name for the ring-tailed lemur is maki.

Residents of Madagascar attribute amazing abilities to lemurs. For example, they are sure that these animals know the secrets of healing: family members collect medicinal herbs and place them on top of the wounds of a sick relative. They also say that female lemurs, before giving birth, weave a cradle from twigs and hang it on a tree, having previously placed stones on the bottom so that the cradle is not blown away by the wind.

Few people in the world know how to love as much as ring-tailed lemurs. When a married couple is formed, the connection lasts a lifetime. If one lemur dies, the second falls into terrible melancholy: life loses all meaning for him.

Lemurs have very sensitive skin: on the surface of the palm there is a ridge relief - a special formation of depressions and elevations, thanks to which lemurs are able to “see with their hands.”

A flock of ring-tailed lemurs usually includes 12-25 individuals. The group is led by a dominant female and male. At the same time, females dominate over males, their position in the hierarchy is stable. Mothers often rest in groups, tidying up, sitting on the forest floor. Children play at this time, crawling from one female to another. It happens that three or four offspring hang on one long-suffering female at once, and meanwhile the other, leaning towards her, lovingly licks them. But males constantly have to confirm their right to dominate in fights. Each member of the pack knows its place in the social hierarchy. In their complex society, lemurs have developed a sophisticated language through which they constantly communicate with each other.

Males use the scent secreted by the axillary glands as a weapon. Before the fight, the male rubs them with his wrists, passes his tail between his legs, presses it to his chest and pulls it between his wrists so that it is thoroughly saturated with these secretions.

Mouse lemur

The smallest of the Madagascar lemurs, our smallest relative is the mouse lemur, or dwarf maquis Microcebus mitermeieri. He has a snub nose and large expressive eyes. The weight of these animals is 45-85 grams. The mother carries her newborn babies, grabbing the skin on her side with her teeth, and they never hang on her either from below or on her back.

Indri and sifaka

The family of indriid lemurs is very interesting. There are four types. Indri is the largest living lemur. The length of his body including his head is about a meter. Indri is an excellent jumper: he pushes off, sharply straightening his hind limbs, and while standing flies through the air, again and again moving with high leaps from tree to tree. The most curious thing is that during such jumping-flights, animals usually use their tail. But the indri does not have a tail - just a small appendage, but this does not interfere with its “giant swing”.

A relative of the indri is the sifaka lemur. He jumps so well that he has even lost the ability to run on all fours. Its hind legs are much longer than its front legs, and if it sometimes descends to the ground, it moves by jumping in a vertical position, pushing off with both legs.

At sunrise, in the morning hours, indris and sifakas bask in the sun, while the lemurs raise their arms to the sky to warm them up well. For a long time, this prayerful pose served as a “safeguard” for lemurs: sun-worshipping animals were not hunted. But now superstitious fears have disappeared, and nothing protects the lemurs. Neither that they are our relatives, nor that they are an endangered species.

Anton Smekhov

Reading time: 4 minutes

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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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 baked goods.

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.

Once upon a time in Ancient Greece there was a word for a night ghost. This word is lemur. When zoologists met these funny animals with large expressive eyes, they were called lemurs. The local population was terribly afraid of lemurs, endowing them with mystical abilities. Lemurs come in many different types and sizes.

The smallest lemur is the dwarf mouse lemur, measuring only 22 centimeters maximum, including the tail. The baby weighs no more than fifty grams. The largest living one is the babakoto or short-tailed indri. Its maximum weight is no more than seven and a half kilograms, and its body length does not exceed seventy centimeters.

general information

The classification of these animals as a species looks like this:

There are five lemur-like families in which 101 species of these animals are united,

Lemur species differ from each other coat color, size, habits and habitat. All lemurs have characteristic triangular-shaped faces, five fingers on each of their grasping limbs and large, expressive eyes. A characteristic feature of almost all species of wet-nosed monkeys is a large, fluffy tail and a special expression in the eyes.

What does a lemur eat?

Most often, these primates eat all kinds of plant foods, for example, sweet plant fruits such as bananas or figs. Some, for example, the species of Madagascan bat, happily eat mangoes and coconuts, or Indian date fruits, which are especially liked by ring-tailed lemurs.

Giant bamboo shoots They prefer to feast on species such as large bamboo and golden.

Sifakas and indris are staunch vegetarians, while the dwarf Cockerela successfully hunts small birds and eats their eggs. A large number of lemurs happily eat various insects, beetles, worms and larvae. Some plants from the diet of the indriaceae species contain toxic substances. To neutralize them, this type of lemur eats the ground.

Gray mouse lemur often catches chameleons and tree frogs, and the dwarf uses the juice of various plants for food, in addition, nectar and pollen from flowers.

In general, all types of lemurs do not consume very much food, and sometimes this food is not very nutritious, so they often rest, saving energy. Some species hide their head between their paws and throw their tail over their shoulders. While eating, they grab food with their paws and put it in their mouth or eat without using their forelimbs.

These animals are in captivity act like omnivores and agree to accept any food. Some species readily eat directly from human hands. You can feed your domestic lemur any vegetables: cabbage, boiled potatoes and beets. You can treat him to rice porridge, baked goods, and nuts. Your pet will also enjoy sweets - dates and honey.

Once a week you can treat your pet with a small portion of boiled meat or fish. You can also give the animal sunflower seeds. And in winter, it would be useful to diversify the diet with all kinds of greens, fresh shoots of various trees, maybe conifers - fir or pine. If there are no fresh branches in winter, pre-dried bunches of branches will do. They should be prepared in advance in the summer.

Where do lemurs live

Initially, the ancestors of modern lemurs lived on the African continent, this was a long time ago, millions of years ago. Now this species is not found on the continent, but approximately 165 million years ago, as a result of a tectonic cataclysm, it broke away from Africa Madagascar island together with the ancient Proto-Lemurs who lived on it. Their descendants are very diverse and now inhabit not only Madagascar, but also the nearby Comoros Islands.

These animals live only where there is a lot of vegetation, although they have mastered all the natural zones of Madagascar. Depending on the species, some animals breed successfully in the eastern part of the island, among the jungles with a tropical monsoon climate. Other primates prefer to settle in the temperate maritime climate of the central part of the island.

A sufficient number of lemur species also live in the forests of the west coast, where it is quite dry. And also among the trees growing in the northeastern and southern parts of Madagascar. Despite this, many species of these primates included in the Red Book and are protected by law.

They live in family groups, usually up to 25 individuals per group. In their family strict hierarchical system with an obligatory main female. The lemur spends its entire life, as a rule, in a tree; they rarely descend to the ground, with the exception of species such as Vari, red-bellied and ring-tailed lemurs. These species are more tolerant of the earth's surface than other types of lemurs.

Lemurs live quite spaciously; one family can live on an area of ​​up to eighty hectares. They strictly protect their lands from strangers, carefully marking the boundaries of the occupied territory. At a time, a female lemur can give birth to only one cub, which she carries for almost eight months. After birth, the cub constantly hangs on the mother for another two months, holding her tightly by the fur, and only after that begins an independent life.

In addition, these animals can be kept in captivity. For home keeping, one of the following breeds is most often chosen: It is preferable to keep these animals in cages or enclosures due to the fact that it is impossible to train them to the tray. In addition, the house should be warm and draft-free, since these are very heat-loving animals. It would also be useful to place a small house inside the cage so that the animal has somewhere to hide and sleep. Despite some difficulty in keeping, these primates are able to bring their owners many pleasant and joyful moments. The fauna and nature in general on our planet are beautiful in all its diversity.

The lemur is rightfully considered one of the most mysterious animals. Everyone can imagine a cute animal with big eyes, familiar from the cartoon “Madagascar,” but not everyone knows that there are 101 species of these animals, very different from each other in lifestyle, color, size, and food preferences. Until recently, virtually nothing was known about them: only 16 species were thought to exist. But recently, the life of these unique animals has been actively studied. Scientists have already made serious discoveries, described each species, and learned what different lemurs eat in nature. But there are still mysteries, and they will be revealed in the near future.

Lemur - description, origin of the name

There is an interesting version about the appearance of the name of this cute animal.

Once upon a time, ancient Roman sailors who visited the island of Madagascar heard piercing screams in the thickets at night, reminiscent of the screams of children. Having gone to help, as they believed, the kids, who most likely wanted to be eaten by predatory animals, they saw rather large eyes burning in the darkness. Fantasy, spurred by fear, forced the Romans to run away, because, in their opinion, “lemurs” lived in the thickets. Translated from the ancient Roman language, this word meant “evil spirits”, “ghosts”.

The sailors did not even believe then that such a cute creature, similar to monkeys or even people, not at all scary and not dangerous, could frighten them so much. Thus, when talking about evil spirits eating children on the island of Madagascar, travelers mentioned lemurs. And the name stuck.

Where do lemurs live?

Lemurs are endemic animals because their habitat is limited to the island of Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, located between Africa and Madagascar. If previously animals occupied almost the entire island of Madagascar, now in the natural environment they can only be found in the west (from Fort Dauphin to Monradov) and in the Andringitra mountain range.

According to legend, lemurs sailed from Africa on rafts they themselves built. This, of course, could not have happened, but there is some truth in this story. Modern scientists argue that the animals could well have crossed to the island that separated from the continent on large branches and logs during the period of lowering sea levels, and perhaps crossed over the shallows formed during that period. Since they had practically no enemies on the island, the populations grew rapidly. The local nature also helped the lemurs: the forests were full of a variety of suitable food.

According to another version, it was precisely those populations that survived that remained on the part that separated from the mainland and is now Madagascar itself, since there were much fewer enemies and much more food.

Now the places where lemurs live are various forests: dry woodlands, wet jungles, mountain slopes. Most exist alone, preferring a nocturnal lifestyle. Some species form families.

Sometimes particularly brave representatives wander into city parks or visit landfills in search of food.

If you see lemurs in their natural environment, do not try to catch them: firstly, it is almost impossible; secondly, most species are protected because their populations are declining - you will be responsible for the caught animal.

Description of lemurs

For many, lemurs are cute animals with big eyes, soft, fluffy fur, lazily crawling from branch to branch and chewing leaves. There is a lot of both true and unfair in this image that has formed in the mind. Indeed, most animals have huge eyes, but not all species have large eyes. Not all have soft fur. And these animals are not always lazy and slow; some run quite quickly on the ground, are able to move along rocky mountain ledges, jump from branch to branch, covering considerable distances.

The diversity of species also entails differences in the appearance of the animal. We will talk about individual representatives of lemurs in the continuation of the article, but for now we will highlight the main characteristics of these unique animals.

The size of the animal depends on its species: the largest are indri - they grow up to a meter and can weigh about 10 kg, and the smallest are dwarf mouse lemurs, which do not grow more than 23 cm, of which 10 cm is the length of the tail, with a weight of about 50 gr. studies have shown that animals of this species that once existed and have become extinct by our time could weigh about 200 kg and have gigantic sizes (from a two-year-old calf).

The muzzle of most lemurs is elongated, reminiscent of a fox. The eyes are most often disproportionately large located in front, which makes it seem. that the animal is somewhat surprised. Eye color also depends on the species: most often orange-red, brown-yellow. The black lemur has blue eyes that are unique in the animal world.

The limbs of the animals have five fingers, well developed, since grasping functions are very important for climbing trees. In all animals, the thumb of the forelimbs is opposed to the rest, which makes it possible to cling tightly to branches. On the second finger of the lower limbs there is a huge claw (most have nails growing on the other fingers), with which they “comb” the thick fur. But the length of the limbs relative to the fore-hind proportion may differ depending on the species: in some, the forelimbs are much longer than the hind limbs. This is due to the arboreal lifestyle and the need to cling to branches and hang. The same species that live on land have either relatively the same size limbs or more developed hind limbs.

Many lemurs have luxurious tails, which, in turn, perform many functions: it helps balance while jumping or running, clings to branches and holds the animal, and is a signaling tool for other individuals, especially those living in flocks. The big-tailed lemur is very attentive to him: he always takes care of hygiene. Sometimes the length of the tail exceeds the size of the animal’s body. And only indri lemurs have relatively short tails, growing only up to 5 cm.

Watching these funny animals, you can note that they look at unfamiliar objects very carefully, but are in no hurry to touch them. In the natural environment, young, inexperienced individuals spend a long time studying new animals or plants. A domestic lemur will never touch a thing without examining it in detail and assessing its safety.

Lifestyle of lemurs in their natural environment

If previously it was believed that lemurs were exclusively nocturnal animals, then recent studies of the life of these animals prove that the diversity of species also differs in their behavior, daily activity, and solitary or family (gregarious) way of life.

The Madagascar bat is also nocturnal: during the daytime, this rather large animal hides in the foliage of trees, but at night it wakes up to eat and communicate with its relatives, which is when everyone hears terrifying screams. With the onset of darkness, many dwarf lemurs, hiding during the day in shelters in the trees, wake up. Slender-bodied lemurs are nocturnal and prefer to live in thickets.

But the ring-tailed lemur is more active during the day than at night. This is due to the fact that they live on earth. Red warries, which live exclusively in trees, also demonstrate a diurnal lifestyle. The short-tailed indris are rightfully considered the most “daytime”: these animals gladly expose their bodies to the sun, stretching out on the branches of trees, and fall asleep when darkness falls. Crested sifakas (vero), which live in trees in the humid areas of the island, are also active during the day.

The activity of macaco (black) lemurs depends on the season and on the phase of the moon: during the new moon and during dry times they lead a fairly passive lifestyle, and during the rainy season these animals become active from sunrise to dusk.

Lemurs are characterized by a state of seasonal hibernation: for some time they hide in shelters and spend time in a state of rest.

The social relationships of these animals are also varied. As a rule, lemurs live in packs led by females. Growing young animals rarely leave their family, but continue to live inside, occupying their position determined by status. These “family” ones include ring-tailed lemurs (cat-tailed lemurs), which live in packs with clearly structured intra-family hierarchical relationships and distribution of responsibilities. Red-headed moths also live in flocks of up to 20 individuals.

Small-toothed lemurs are solitary animals that pair up for short periods of time to have offspring. Many species of small lemurs are solitary, preferring to live in small hollows in trees or burrows.

Indris usually live as a family: a female, a male and their offspring of different ages. If mature animals create their own family, they separate from their parents and go to their own territory. Indris communicate their rights to the territory not only with traditional marks, but also with loud morning singing. Golden bamboo lemurs also create the same ideal families. The composition is simple: parents and offspring, who, growing up, leave the family and create their own.

Recent studies have shown that Madagascar bats, who prefer to be solitary (they build nests in the forks of trees exclusively for themselves), prefer to hunt or play in pairs.

All lemurs are territorial animals that mark their habitat with urine or special enzymes and protect their area from uninvited guests. Arboreal animals mark their homes by scratching tree bark or biting branches.

What do lemurs eat and what do they eat in the wild?

In their natural environment, lemurs feed mainly on plant foods, although it cannot be said that all animals of this species eat the same.

Since most of these animals live in trees, their diet consists of what they could find around them. As a rule, these are ripe fruits (figs, bananas), leaves, young shoots, plant seeds, flowers. Large individuals can also feast on tree bark.

Plant food is not always enough to replenish strength, so lemurs compensate for this by long rests or slow movements.

Small individuals, for example, dwarf lemurs, happily feed on the nectar of flowers, their pollen, and plant resins. This animal also eats larvae and even small insects.

Some species have special preferences for plant foods. Madagascar bats are very fond of the milk of coconuts and mangoes, the ring-tailed lemur is very fond of the fruits of the Indian date (tamarind), and the golden and bamboo lemurs are partial to bamboo shoots.

But not all lemurs are herbivores. You should know that the lemur sometimes eats insects: various beetles, butterflies (especially those that fly at night), spiders, mantises, cockroaches. The gray mouse lemur will not refuse small vertebrates: chameleons and frogs. Observations of animals have shown that they even eat small birds and their eggs.

Indri lemurs sometimes eat the ground. This dietary feature is caused by the need to neutralize some toxic substances contained in plants.

Animals usually grab food with their teeth or take it with their front paws and bring it to their mouth. Watching animals while eating is very interesting, since many of them resemble people.

A lemur at home or in a zoo can switch to food that is not typical for it and quickly get used to the change in its natural diet, but it is still necessary to take into account the preferences of the animal in nature.

Puberty occurs differently in each species. The smaller the animal in size and weight, the sooner it becomes capable of producing offspring. Thus, large indris become sexually mature only at the age of five, and the dwarf mouse lemur can reproduce within a year. Despite the fact that some species can live more than 30 years, their reproductive age is short.

Usually the mating period of animals coincides with a certain season. This is connected with nutrition - food preferences affect the time of courtship.

During the mating season, animals call each other with loud cries, rub against their chosen ones, and try to mark them with their scent.

The relationship between a female and a male develops differently. In most species, pairs do not form. One male may well be the father of the cubs of many females and takes virtually no part in raising the younger generation. But in the Indriidae family, monogamous couples form: the animal finds a new partner only if its own dies.

Despite the fact that pregnancy in lemurs, depending on the species, lasts from two to seven and a half months, they produce offspring only once a year. And some species, for example, the Madagascar bat, even less often, once every 2-3 years.

Most often, one cub is born, less often two. This is due to the fact that they are born absolutely helpless. Some weigh no more than 5 grams. Even babies of large individuals are born weighing only 80-120 grams. The little lemur opens its eyes on the second to fifth day; until this time it practically does not hear. Only rare species give birth to sighted children. But babies have well-developed grasping reflexes: as soon as they are born, they already cling to their mother’s fur on the belly, where they find milk and warmth. And only after a few weeks they are able to move onto the female’s back, where they will stay for about six months. Not every mother is able to bear two babies, which is why they give birth rarely and in small numbers.

After two to three months, the cubs sometimes begin to leave the female’s back in order to independently develop the territory. Caring parents return runaways, since careless kids can fall from trees and die.

But the appearance and first months of life of cubs in some species have their own characteristics. Thus, the gray mouse lemur breeds offspring in specially prepared hollows, where the babies spend up to two weeks and only then go out into the world.

The appearance of offspring in lemur lemurs occurs in a special way. First, they build a nest for future children. Secondly, these are the only lemurs that can give birth to 5-6 babies at once. And finally, for several weeks the lemurs remain in the nest under the supervision of the male, rather than clinging to the female.

Lory lemurs are very picky in choosing a partner. Recently, these animals are often kept as pets. If in the natural environment there is an opportunity to create a pair with that. whoever sympathizes with the animal, then the loris lemur at home, even if there is an individual of the opposite sex nearby, may not have offspring, since he simply will not like the partner.

The decline of many lemur populations is directly related to the characteristics of reproduction. In captivity, animals may not reproduce at all.

Types of lemurs

Since lemurs had practically no enemies in Madagascar, and the primates that displaced them from other habitats were not found here, the animals had the opportunity to evolve. The study of these animals began relatively recently: research has shown that there are more than 100 species of these unique animals, which are divided into 4 families:

Each of the existing families has its own subspecies.

Archaeological finds have shown that animals appeared in Madagascar 50 million years ago, and at the moment there are 3 families that are already extinct:

• megadalapids;
• paleopropithecus;
• archaeolemurs.

These animals are a kind of calling card of Madagascar, although they live only in the southern part of the island. The official name is the ring-tailed lemur, or catta, and belongs to the lemur family.

They live in families with strong hierarchical relationships: the head of the pack is the alpha female, who carefully monitors order and leads her relatives to feed. Males of this species do not stay in the pack for long; they usually come only during the mating period, and then leave in search of other packs. This behavior ensures healthy offspring without inbreeding.

The ring-tailed lemur has a very original coloring: the eyes seem to be thickly outlined with dark areas of fur, which makes the animal look serious and attentive. The brown-gray back and light belly resemble human clothing, so it is believed to be a human-like creature, especially when the catta stands on its hind legs.

A distinctive feature of representatives of this species is their bright long tail, colored with successive black and white stripes, of which there are most often 25, always ending in black. The length of the tail can exceed the size of the catta's body, up to 65 cm with a body up to 45; Moreover, the weight of this decoration can reach up to 1.5 kg with the total weight of the animal up to 3.5. When moving on the ground, all members of the flock raise their tail high so that the alpha female can see where everyone is.

The ring-tailed lemur moves equally easily on the ground and jumps through trees, which makes it difficult prey for the fossa.

Another feature of these animals is their very long reproductive age - they can bear offspring almost until the end of their lives, which helps maintain the population.

Gray mouse lemur

The dwarf lemur family includes 5 genera with 30 species, among which the gray mouse lemur is the most famous, since it is currently quite often purchased as a pet.

This cute lemur with very large kind eyes is rightfully considered the smallest, its weight does not exceed 65 grams. It lives only in the north and west of the island.

According to its way of life in its natural environment, the gray mouse lemur is a nocturnal animal. During the day he sleeps in a hollow tree, sometimes in the company of same-sex relatives, sometimes alone, and at night he goes out to hunt. The animal rarely descends to the ground, but travels well through the trees. Despite its very small size, it can jump over distances of up to three meters.

The food for this baby is flower nectar, flowers themselves, plant resin, insect larvae and even small insects. For its size, the animal is quite voracious.

By the age of one year, the dwarf mouse lemur becomes sexually mature. 2 months after mating, the female gives birth to two, and sometimes three, cubs, which spend up to two weeks in the hollow and only then begin to gradually come out. Babies are born very small, weighing no more than 5 grams, but covered in wool. In their natural environment, these animals reproduce until they are approximately 6 years old, although the domestic lemur can live for 20 years.

In nature, these animals have a lot of enemies (snakes, birds, fossas), so the mortality rate is quite high.

At home, the gray mouse lemur easily takes root, but future owners must take into account the animal’s nocturnal lifestyle. During the day he will sleep in his shelter, and at night he will be active.

The Madagascar bat is the only representative of the bat family, so for a long time there were debates regarding its classification as lemurs or rodents. But nevertheless, the researchers decided that in terms of its structure this animal is a lemur.

The animal weighs about 3 kg, the size of the fluffy tail is up to 60 cm, much larger than the body - up to 43 cm. The animal has a large head with huge, almost bald ears, an elongated nose and attentive eyes. The body is covered with black or with a slight brown tint of coarse hair.

A distinctive feature of the Madagascar monkey is its very long toes, with the help of which it perfectly clings to trees and obtains food for itself. The middle finger with a deadly claw is especially useful, with which the animal, like a woodpecker, taps a tree, finds and takes out the larvae. With the help of the same tool, the little arm breaks through coconuts and extracts its favorite delicacy - coconut milk. But when walking on the ground, her fingers get in the way, so she leans on her fists and goes down to the ground extremely rarely. The teeth of the arm, accustomed to gnawing bark, grow throughout its life.

The animal is exclusively nocturnal. During the day he sleeps in shelters. It is worth noting that the little hand builds several houses and hides in them one by one, probably so that predators cannot notice its shelter.

The lemur, called “ay-ay” by local residents, received its middle name because of its rare screams, which for some reason they were afraid to hear.

The Madagascar bat reproduces very slowly: females give birth once every 2-3 years, most often one baby is born, so the existence of this animal was under threat several decades ago.

In recent years, little arms have been taken into the home as pets. Breeders should take into account the behavioral characteristics of these animals and be prepared for the fact that they will be awakened at night by their frightening screams.

There is still debate about whether Loriids belong to lemurs. On the one hand, the animal, which is very similar in appearance to the Madagascar lemur, has a similar lifestyle and reproductive characteristics as other representatives. On the other hand, the habitat is not Madagascar at all, but the forests of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the Malaysian Peninsula, the islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Central Africa and South Asia. The loris has virtually no tail, which distinguishes it from other lemurs.

And yet, most people consider lorises to be lemurs. In recent years, they are often kept as pets, touched by their charm. The loris lemur adapts quite quickly at home, but breeders must take into account the peculiarity of the animal’s existence in its natural environment.

Loris belong to the order of primates, the suborder of the wet-nosed animals. There are five families of these animals, among which the most famous are the slow and slender lorises. Their body length does not exceed 40 cm, and their weight is 2 kg. They have a light brown coat with a dark stripe along the back and an almost black edging around the expressive eyes.

These are slow-moving animals that are exclusively nocturnal. They have huge eyes that can see perfectly in the dark. During the day, the animals hide high in the crowns in built shelters. They are very well adapted to life in trees: they deftly move from branch to branch, clinging tightly with their paws. But lorises, like many of their cousins, cannot jump at all.

Most often they live alone, but communication with relatives is important for them, so the lemur loris at home, being the only one, can become very sad. They take a long time to choose a mate. They become sexually mature only after a year and a half, then they find a partner. Pregnancy lasts quite a long time for an animal of this size - about 7 months, after which one, rarely two babies are born. They are born sighted, their coat color is lighter, almost silver, than that of adults, but by 2 months they already acquire a permanent color. Up to a year, and sometimes longer, babies stay near their mother. If they want to communicate something, they emit a quiet chirping sound, reminiscent of a bird. The male never takes part in raising the offspring.

In nature, these animals live up to 17 years, and at home they can live longer.

Endangered Lemur Species

Scientists have calculated that about a hundred species of lemurs live on the island of Madagascar, differing from each other in size, color, lifestyle, and diet. But not everyone feels comfortable. Some species are on the verge of extinction due to poaching and uncontrolled deforestation. Let's imagine animals whose lives are in danger.

• White-fronted indri (diadem sifaka). The habitat is the very small forests of the eastern part of the island, which has a detrimental effect on the population.

• Mongoose lemur. One of the few species that lives off the island, but the reduction of possible habitats threatens its existence.

• Brown mouse lemur. Nocturnal, it is the smallest representative of the species, resembling a mouse, which is why it got its name.

• Aye-aye (Madagascar little hand). The largest representative. Active at night and before sunrise. In recent decades, it has suffered greatly from poachers.

• Brown lemur. Lives exclusively in Madagascar. Very friendly to other animals.

• Gapalemurs. A special feature of this species is its ability to swim. Unlike their other brethren, who prefer to spend most of their time in tree branches or on the ground, animals of this subspecies feel comfortable in the water.

• Golden-headed sifaka. They live in flocks with clearly structured hierarchical relationships; they often become victims of fossa, so their population is greatly reduced.

• Fork-fronted lemur. It got its name because of the two dark stripes on the frontal part of the head. Prefers arthropods and small reptiles as food. Has the unique ability to jump great distances.

• Silky Sifaka. It especially suffers from poachers who hunt it for its unique fur. Its cute appearance makes it an expensive commodity in the black animal trade market.

• Blue-eyed black lemur. So named because of the eye color unique to animals. Only males are black, females are exclusively red-brown. Animals are suffering due to the reduction of forest areas. They are aggressive towards other representatives and can even kill opponents.

In recent decades, these species have been taken under the protection of international organizations. Criminal penalties have been introduced for actions leading to the death of lemurs.

Extinct lemur families

Despite the numerous species, lemurs already have their losses: three families are considered extinct today. Just recently, scientists made an incredible discovery: a flooded cave was found in a national park, in which an entire cemetery of giant animals was discovered. How they ended up in this place remains to be seen, but the fact of the existence of lemurs in Madagascar from the Pleistocene to the present day is irrefutable.

• Megaladapis family. We can talk about the appearance of these animals solely from archaeological finds, since they became extinct quite a long time ago, about 10-12 thousand years ago. Although there are references to the existence of megaladapis as early as 1504, that is, the time of the appearance of Europeans in Madagascar, there is no factual evidence of this.

In its structure, the creature, similar to modern koalas, was quite squat, with powerful hind legs and very long front legs. The joint of the foot and well-developed toes indicate that megaladapis were not adapted to terrestrial life, but existed well in trees. For these features they received their second name - koala lemurs.

The location of the eyes was also unusual: on the sides, and not in front, like most modern relatives. The powerful jaws and structure of the teeth indicate that these lemurs ate exclusively plant foods. These were very large animals, weighing up to 75 kg.

• Family Paleopropithecus. The study of the life of these animals proves that representatives of the family were represented on the island by four genera (Mesopropithecus, Paleopropithecus, Archaeoindri, Babakotia). It is believed that animals ceased to exist in the last millennia BC. But there are legends that representatives of this family were seen much later, even in the 16th century of our time.

All skeletal finds were found in swampy areas of the island, most often in caves, which suggests that Paleopropithecus led a terrestrial lifestyle, preferring wet areas.

Reconstruction of the animal's skeleton shows that the weight of Archaeoindri could reach up to 200 kg. Such a gigantic creature was definitely terrestrial. But representatives of the other three other genera were much smaller, 10-25 kg, and could live perfectly well on trees.

• Family Archaeolemuridae. Archaeological research shows that members of this family lived in Madagascar until approximately the 12th century. The presumable cause of death is the development of the island and hunting for them.

Reconstruction of the skeleton showed that these were quite large animals: their mass reached 25 kg. They had short limbs relative to the body; grasping capabilities were less developed compared to other related animals, which suggests that archaeolemurs primarily lived on the ground. The structure of the jaw shows that they had to carefully grind their food, which most likely included seeds, flowers, leaves, fruits, arthropods and possibly small animals.

The found bones confirm the version that the habitat of archaeolemurs was almost the entire island.

If you have a lemur at home

Recently, lemurs are often taken into the home as pets. People are attracted to the small, cute animal with expressive eyes and soft fur. Usually this is a mouse lemur or a loris lemur. At home, these animals take root safely, but it must be taken into account that the living conditions should be as close to natural as possible.

Most lemurs are nocturnal - this is their nature; it is after sunset that they leave their shelter to eat, play and clean up; Therefore, be prepared for the fact that the loris lemur at home will hide in its house all day, and you most likely will not be able to play with your cute pet, but at night the baby will make noise.

• a shelter house attached at the top, in which the animal can hide during the day;
• all kinds of branches, climbing devices: otherwise the animal will not be able to move sufficiently (the loris lemur at home prefers to hang on branches; dwarf lemurs prefer to jump);
• drinking bowl with clean water;
• special filler for rodents.

If you have larger animals, then the enclosure should be of appropriate size.

Try to make your pet's home as close in appearance to the natural environment as possible. You should not put soft toys, running wheels, or bright accessories in the enclosure - they will scare the animal.

Many owners of furry pets worry about how to organize proper nutrition. First of all, you should find out what this animal eats in its natural environment. The diversity of species also implies differences in nutrition, as well as the ratio of plant and animal foods. In nature, animals eat fruits and flowers, love nectar, pollen and plant resins; they will happily swallow larvae, small insects, and feast on bird eggs. Pets need to have enough food to stay healthy and active. Most lemurs should eat the following foods:

• a variety of fruits, especially those that they ate in the wild;
• vegetables (raw and lightly cooked);
• cereal porridge;
• dairy products;
• freshly squeezed juices, possibly with the addition of honey;
• boiled chicken eggs or raw bird eggs (quail eggs can be used);
• insects and larvae (you can store them in the refrigerator and defrost them before use, but it is better to offer them alive).

Most lemurs go out looking for food after dark, so it is better to feed them in the evening so as not to disturb their natural way of life.

The lemur's thick fur also requires care. In nature, animals comb it with their large finger claw. It should be noted that these clean animals devote quite a lot of time to their appearance. At home, the loris lemur will also carefully sort through its fur every evening or at night, smoothing it with its paws, but pets especially love it when they are combed, with pleasure exposing their belly and back, while demonstrating obvious bliss. Owners can get a small brush with small soft bristles for their pets and periodically pamper their furry baby with pleasant treatments. But you shouldn’t comb pygmy lemurs: they are so small that any comb, even the smallest one, can damage their skin.

In the natural environment, only one species of lemur likes to swim and even knows how to swim. The rest of the animals never come near the water. Therefore, you should not bathe the lemur: baths, especially with shampoos, can disrupt the natural microflora and lead to diseases.

The animals are very curious, and if you consider that their activity time is at night, then they will begin to explore your apartment exactly when you are sleeping. Tenacious fingers will help them open the lock on the enclosure, so make sure that the cage is closed not with a primitive latch or hook, but more reliably, otherwise the animals may hang on the wires, or even taste them, and this can lead to the death of the animal.

Despite the fact that many lemurs are very selective and prefer a solitary lifestyle, it is better to keep them in pairs. Thus, the slender loris lemur at home suffers greatly from loneliness and may even die. It is not at all necessary that a couple will produce offspring (they rarely breed in captivity), but communication with relatives is of great importance for the animals.

When bringing a lemur into your home, remember that the animal should feel comfortable and not be your living toy.

Legends about lemurs

In Madagascar, the lemur is considered a sacred animal, because there is a legend that they were once people who went into the forest and, adapting to a different way of life, grew hair, learned to live in trees and eat fruits. The inhabitants of the island revere these animals: when they meet them, they greet them respectfully. If a lemur falls into a hunting trap, it is released, but the wounded animal will be taken home, treated, and then released into the forest.

There is a legend about the appearance of these animals in Madagascar, which says that lemurs used to live in Africa, but they did not feel safe there, so they built a raft and swam to the island. It is difficult to imagine that animals themselves can build at least some kind of vessel and cross the water to another place, but this is exactly how the legend explains their appearance.

In Madagascar, they are very wary of the Madagascan bat; they try not to mention its name again. There is a superstition that a person who kills this animal will certainly die within a year. It is believed that if an animal screams near the house, then something bad will definitely happen. Local residents are afraid of falling asleep in the forest, because when they wake up, they should find a grass pillow placed under a hand. If there is a pillow under your head, expect wealth, under your feet - a terrible curse.

Lemurs do not have hair on their palms, and most of them have paws that closely resemble human hands. The skin on the palms of animals is very sensitive, so they examine unfamiliar objects not only with their eyes, but also with their hands.

Some females carry their babies not on their backs, as usual, but in their mouths, so in order to eat, they first lay out the babies and then eat. If this is not possible, the female may remain hungry.

During dry periods, ring-tailed lemurs obtain moisture from cacti by carefully peeling off the spines.

All lemurs have a rather shrill voice, sometimes frightening because it resembles a human, or rather a child’s, cry. But the indri are rightfully considered the most vocal. This is due to the fact that animals practically do not have a tail, which for many is a signal for determining location, so a cry becomes a signal. A lemur with a very shrill voice is able to inform its relatives about danger or its location at almost a distance of one kilometer.

The tail of lemurs serves as a kind of storage room for them. It is there that they store reserves of fat and nutrients in case of hunger or hibernation.

Lemurs are cute, harmless animals. In recent decades, a lot of research has been carried out that will shed light on the features of their life, so mysterious to us. Unfortunately, human activities are increasingly harming their natural environment, so taking care of the conservation of these unique animals is our direct responsibility.