Lemurs are a unique group of primates native to Madagascar, an island off the coast of East Africa. Although related to monkeys, lemurs form a separate branch of the primate family tree and are classified as a superfamily, consisting of five individual lemur families and more than 100 different species.
Lemurs have pointed snouts and rely more on their sense of smell than monkeys, as reported by the Lemur Conservation Foundation. The lemur superfamily includes ring-tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta ) and the aye-ayes ( Daubentonia madagascariensis ).
Regarding their appearance, food and habitat, this can vary between the different species. However, as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) points out, these peculiar mammals are the most threatened on Earth. In fact, almost all the lemurs alive today are in danger of extinction.
Different species
There are 113 different species of recognized lemurs. The largest species of lemur is the indri, as it can reach 90 centimeters in height and weigh up to 10 kilograms, according to the Zoological Society of London. Also, lemurs often have long tails, but indris are the only ones that don’t have any.
Instead, the smallest lemurs are Madame Berthe’s mice ( Microcebus berthae ), which are also the smallest primates in the world. These lemurs measure between 9 and 11 centimeters, excluding their tails. Also, according to the University of Michigan, they only weigh about 30 grams.
Lemur habitats
All lemurs are found in Madagascar, an island country off the west coast of Africa. However, mongoose lemurs ( Eulemur mongoz ) and brown lemurs ( Eulemur fulvus ) also live on the Comoros islands, between Madagascar and Mozambique. However, it is almost certain that the species were introduced to these islands by humans.
Lemurs occupy many different habitats in Madagascar, including rainforests, dry deciduous forests, thorn forests, wetlands, and mountains. For example, Sibree dwarf lemurs ( Cheirogaleus sibreei ) live in rainforests at altitudes above 1,400 meters, while white-necked lemurs ( Eulemur cinereiceps ) prefer tropical, moist ground vegetation.
How they feed?
Many lemurs are herbivores and feed on fruits, flowers, tree bark, and sap. However, they can be very picky about what they eat, and most of their diet comes from some species of trees.
Some lemurs are omnivores and also eat insects and small vertebrates. Ring-tailed lemurs, for example, feed on anything that is easy for them to find, and their diet can include spiders, chameleons, and even small birds.
