lemur, generallyStrepsirrhinigenerally, any primitive primate except the tarsier; more specifically, any of the more primitive primates except the tree shrewsindigenous primates of Madagascar. In this the broad sense, the term covers lemur applies not only to the typical lemurs (family Lemuridae) but also to the avahiavahis, sifakas, indri, sifaka, and aye-aye , lorisof Madagascar, in addition to the lorises, potto, and galago (qq.v.). All these animals are characterized by a naked, moist tip to the muzzle; comblike, forward-directed lower front teeth; and a clawlike nail on the second toe of the foot.Typical lemurs are slender primates that are found only on Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They bush babies of Southeast Asia and Africa. Defined more narrowly, it excludes the last three (the Lorisiformes).
General features



9 cm (3.5 inches) in

the dwarf lemur to about 60 cm in the true lemurs



can be longer than their bodies

. The animals’ woolly fur


marked or striped


Lemurs are

lower on the evolutionary scale and are

less intelligent than monkeys. Their sense of smell is more acute



they lack binocular


Lemurs are docile, gregarious animals

, and

; some species live in groups of 10 or more. Most

are active at night and sleep during the day. Lemurs spend most

of their time is spent in the trees





species are more carnivorous than others. A single young is


, and it



Lemur diversity

The “true lemurs” (family Lemuridae

includes three

) include five genera and about

nine species, with the typical genus being that of the true lemurs (Lemur)



Lemur catta),


commonly seen in zoos. It is unique both in


its habitat (


some dry


and rocky areas of Madagascar) and


for its striped tail

, since

(all other lemurs have solid-coloured tails

. This is the lemur most commonly seen in zoos. Another species of true lemur is the black lemur (L


Another genus within the family Lemuridae is that of the nocturnal, bamboo-eating gentle lemurs (Hapalemur). The sportive lemurs make up a separate family (Lepilemuridae), as do the dwarf (Cheirogaleus) and mouse (Microcebus) lemurs, which together make up the family Cheirogaleidae. Mouse and dwarf lemurs are small types that store fat in their rumps and tails and estivate during dry periods.

A number of lemurs are listed in the Red Data Book as rare or endangered animals.

Lemurs first appeared in the Early Eocene Epoch (57.8 to 52






Eocene lemuroids were



and are found as fossils


deposits in

North America and Europe

. One Eocene form, Notharctus (q.v.), is particularly well-

, and some are known from complete

fossil remains



By the close of the Eocene (


approximately 34 million years ago),

Notharctus and related forms

strepsirrhines had practically disappeared from the Northern Hemisphere. The


lemur lineage continued in tropical forests, however, and they were particularly successful in Madagascar, where they were relatively free from competition with more-advanced primates. No fossil deposits are known in Madagascar between the Mesozoic Era and recent times, so the fossil history of the island’s lemurs is unknown.

Russel A. Mittermeier, Lemurs of Madagascar (1994), is a field guide including maps and 36 colour plates; Spirits of the Forest (1987), produced by WNET as part of the Nature television series, portrays several species and behaviours.