Basic Facts About Lemurs Lemurs are small primates known as "prosimians," which, roughly translated, means "pre-primates" or "before monkeys." Native only to the island of Madagascar and the neighboring Comoro Islands, lemurs resemble the oldest ancestors of primates which existed tens of millions of years ago. Lemur Species Exact classification of some types of lemurs is a subject of debate, but it's generally accepted that there are five families of lemurs with about a dozen genera and just over 30 living species. Some species of lemurs are now extinct, including one ancient lemur said to be as large as a gorilla — over 400 pounds. Some prosimian species contain a number of subspecies, all with distinct characteristics, which brings the total types of living lemurs to around 50. Today's lemur species range in size from the tiny pygmy mouse lemur, weighing in at about an ounce, to the 15-pound indri lemur and the sifaka, which are both about the size of a standard house cat. Living Arrangements Most lemurs are arboreal, living in trees.

They spend most of their time at the top of the rainforest canopy or in the forest midlevel. An exception is the ring-tailed lemur, which spends most of its time on the ground. The majority of lemurs are also diurnal, awake during the day and asleep at night — especially those that live in groups, including the ring-tailed lemurs, brown lemurs, and sifakas. The smaller mouse lemurs and dwarf lemurs are nocturnal, preferring to be active in the relative safety of nighttime darkness. The aye-aye, a fascinating lemur with an elongated, claw-like middle finger which it uses to dig insects out of tree bark, is also nocturnal, and is often feared by the Malagasy people of its native Madagascar because of its unusual appearance. Lemur females are dominant. A group of lemurs usually has one dominant female who leads the group, controls their movement, and has first choice of food and mates. Common parts of a lemur diet in the wild include fruits, leaves, and other edible plant materials. Insects may also be on the menu, especially for the smaller lemurs.

Physical Features Unlike some other primates, lemurs do not have prehensile tails (they cannot hang by their tails from trees like monkeys) but they do have long, wet noses. Lemurs have a keen sense of smell and they also have good vision, even at night. Their thumbs and big toes are opposable, but they mainly use their teeth and an extended "toilet claw" on the second toe of their hind feet for grooming. The Real Animals of Madagascar The Real Animals of Madagascar Madagascar—an island off the coast of Africa—has some of the world's most interesting animals. About 75 percent of the species found in Madagascar live nowhere else on the planet. Below are some of the better known animals in Madagascar. Lemurs | Other mammals | Birds | Reptiles | Frogs | Insects Aye-aye Take the ears of a bat and the teeth of a rat, add a long bony middle finger and huge eyes and you have yourself the aye-aye. This nocturnal lemur lives in the rainforests of Madagascar and feeds on insect larvae that it finds by tapping on tree bark with its stick-like middle finger.

As it taps, the aye-aye listens for movement indicative of insects and gnaws away at the wood when it hears something appetizing. Today the aye-aye is highly threatened by habitat loss (rainforest destruction) and hunting. In some areas, local people believe the aye-aye brings bad luck and will kill the animal whenever they encounter it. MORE Bamboo lemur Bamboo lemurs feed on bamboo and are generally found in the rainforests and cloud forests of Madagascar (two species are found outside these areas). MORE Black lemur The black lemur lives in the tropical forests of northern Madagascar. Black lemurs are notable for the differences between the sexes. Males are black while females have reddish-brown fur with a black and white face. Black lemurs feed on fruit, flowers, and young leaves. Dwarf lemur Dwarf lemurs are small nocturnal lemurs that feed on fruit, flowers, young leaves and insects. They are found throughout Madagascar. Indri The indri is the largest living lemur. Black and white in color, the indri is famous for its eerie wail that sounds a bit like the song of a humpback whale.

The indri feeds on fruit and leaves in the canopy of the rainforests of eastern Madagascar. Today the indri is endangered due to habitat loss. MORE | Hear the indri's song Lepilemur, Sportive or Weasel lemur Lepilemurs are nocturnal lemurs that are easily spotted during daylight hours as they rest in tree hollows. Lepilemurs, which are neither weasel-like nor sportive, feed on leaves and are quite vocal at night. In 2005 the discovery of two new species of Lepilemur was announced. MORE Mouse lemur Mouse lemurs are tiny primates found widely in Madagascar. Nocturnal and feeding on insects, small vertebrates, fruit, and flowers, mouse lemurs are known for their chirping vocalizations and frenetic activity. The pygmy mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) may be the world's smallest primate. MORE Red-fronted brown lemur The red-fronted brown lemur is widely distributed in the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar, where it feeds on flowers, leaves, seed pods, fruit, insects, and bark.

MORE Red-ruffed lemur The red-ruffed lemur is found in the rainforests of the Masoala peninsula in northeastern Madagascar. Red-ruffed lemurs live in groups and practice a form of communal parenting. Unlike most other lemurs, their young are not carried by females but left in a nest in the canopy while adults forage. MORE Ring-tailed lemur The ring-tailed lemur is the best known of lemurs. Ringtails live in the dry forests of southern and western Madagascar where they feed on fruit, flowers, leaves, and bark. Ring-tailed lemurs are the most terrestrial of living lemur species and are found in female-dominated groups consisting of three to 20 animals. MORE | See ring-tailed lemurs in action Verreaux's sifaka Sifakas are relatiely large lemurs found throughout Madagascar. Verreaux's sifaka lives in the dry forests of western and southern Madagascar, where it feeds on leaves, fruit, and flowers. Sifakas are quite vocal with a variety of calls.

Sifakas are sometimes known as "dancing lemurs" for their mode of locomotion when they cross open ground: sifakas do not move about on all fours—instead they sashay on their hind legs while holding their arms aloft MORE | See the "sifaka dance" Black-and-white ruffed lemur The black-and-white ruffed lemur lives in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar including the island of Nosy Mangabe. Like the closely related red ruffed lemur of the Masoala peninsula, black-and-white ruffed lemurs are highly territorial and practice communal care for infants, which are kept in nests rather than being carried on the backs or stomachs of their mothers. Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are widely hunted over their range. They also suffer from habitat loss. MORE Flying fox Flying foxes are bats that feed on fruit. Fossa The fossa is a carnivore that is related to a mongoose and looks like a cross between a puma and a dog. Fossas are nocturnal creatures that hunt almost any animal including insects, reptiles, rodents and lemurs. They also prey on chickens in and around Malagasy villages and are hunted by local people as vermin.

Fossa are active both in trees and on the ground and are excellent climbers using their long tails for balance and retractable claws for climbing straight up and down tree trunks. MORE Fanaloka The Fanaloka is a carnivore found in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar. MORE Narrow-striped mongoose The narrow-striped mongoose is a small carnivore found in western Madagascar. MORE Tenrec Tenrecs are unusual insectivores that have radiated into ecological niches filled in other lands by hedgehogs, mice, shrews, opossums, and even otters. While a few species of tenrec are found in central Africa, they are most diverse in Madagascar, which has around 30 species. MORE Blue coua Madagascar has "only" 258 bird species, although 115 of these are endemic (with 36 endemic genera), Madagascar has more unique genera than any other African country. MORE Brookesia chameleon Brookesia chameleons are some of the world's smallest reptiles—one species reaches a maximum length of just over an inch (30 mm).

Also known as stumped-tailed or leaf chameleons, these diminutive creatures are found in the leaf litter of rainforests and dry deciduous forests in much of Madagascar. Brookesia feed on small insects and rely on their cyptic coloration to evade predators. When disturbed, these chameleons will play dead in an effort to resemble a fallen leaf. MORE Chameleon Madagascar is home to about half the world's 150 or so species of chameleons, which are small to mid-size reptiles that are famous for their ability to dramatically change colors. Contrary to popular belief, a chameleon typically does not change colors to match its surroundings. Instead color is usually used to convey emotions, defend territories, and communicate with mates. MORE Day gecko Unlike most geckos, which are nocturnal, Phelsuma day geckos are diurnal lizards. Day geckos are found in Madagascar and nearby islands including the Comoros, Andamans, and Seychelles. They are often brightly colored and use body positioning and movement for territorial displays. Day geckos feed mostly on insects, but also occasionally on fruit and flower nectar.

MORE Uroplatus geckos Leaf-tailed or Uroplatus geckos rely on cryptic coloration as they sleep with their heads downward, flattened against tree trunks and adjusting their body coloration to their surroundings. Inactive during the day, Uroplatus geckos only move when disturbed. They respond to prodding with an impressive display of a brightly colored gaping mouth and an erect tail. At night they hunt insects. MORE Nile crocodile Crocodilus niloticus, the Nile crocodile, is found in freshwater habitats in Madagascar. This species was once widely abundant and greatly feared in the country but years of hunting for its skins has made it a threatened species. Crocodiles are found in the caves of Ankarana special reserve. National Geographic led an expedition to learn about this unique behavior. Spear-nosed snake Madagascar is home to more than 80 species of snakes, none of which are overtly dangerous to humans. The island has no adders, cobras, mambas, pythons, or vipers—only boas and colubrids.

MORE Mantella frog Madagascar is thought to have more than 300 species of frogs, 99 percent of which are endemic. Frogs are the only amphibians found in Madagascar—there are no toads, salamanders, or newts. Mantella are among the most popular of Malagasy frogs in the pet trade. These strikingly beautiful frogs fill a similar ecological niche to the poison dart frogs of South America in that both use bright colors to advertise their toxic skin secretions to predators. MORE Tomato frog The Tomato frog (Dyscophus antongili) can release a sticky glue-like secretion that protects it against colubrid snakes, cats, and dogs. The secreted substance can produce an allergic reaction in humans as well. Comet Moth The Comet Moth (also known as the Madagascan Moon Moth) is known for its huge tail—up to 8 inches (20cm) in length. Pill Millipede Millipedes are common in the forests of Madagascar. These elongated arthropods have two pairs of legs for each one of their 20 to 100 or more body segments.

They are herbivorous, eating decaying leaves and other dead plant matter. Pill millipedes superficially resemble pill bugs for their ability to roll into a tight ball when confronted with danger. Flatid Leaf Bugs The adult form of flatid leaf bugs. When young (in their "nymph" form), these insects resemble lace decorations. MORE Madagascar -- A World Apart: Eden Evolution Isolation and Biodiversity By Dr. Laurie Godfrey About 300 miles east of southern Africa, across the Mozambique Channel, lies the island of Madagascar. Best known for its lemurs (primitive relatives of monkeys, apes, and humans), colorful chameleons, stunning orchids, and towering baobab trees, Madagascar is home to some of the world's most unique flora and fauna. Almost all of Madagascar's reptile and amphibian species, half of its birds, and all of its lemurs are endemic to the island; meaning they can be found nowhere else on earth. Madagascar is unusual not only for its endemic species, but also for the species that are conspicuously absent. Because of Madagascar's geographic isolation, many groups of plants and animals are entirely absent from the island.

Some groups are represented only by species very recently introduced by humans. Missing on the island are the many species of large mammals  antelopes, elephants, zebras, camels, giraffes, hyenas, lions and cheetahs  that roam continental Africa today. The only large African mammal that made it to Madagascar prior to the arrival of humans several thousand years ago was the hippopotamus. Hippos, similar to those that occupy the Nile River basin today, apparently swam to Madagascar sometime during the Tertiary era. Their descendants underwent dwarfing and evolved into species unique to the island. This distinctive biodiversity is a result of Madagascar's geographic isolation. Geologists believe that 165 million years ago Madagascar was connected to Africa, but began to drift away from the continent sometime during the next 15 million years. Paleontologists exploring Madagascar's Mesozoic era deposits have found the bones of dinosaurs, early birds and mammals. However, most of the groups of mammals and other terrestrial fauna that are well represented on Madagascar today had not evolved when Madagascar first split from continental Africa.

It is believed that the ancestors of these animals (including at least one species of primitive primates) arrived on this great island after having crossed large expanses of ocean by rafting on floating logs or matted vegetation. The subsequent adaptive radiation of these taxonomic groups is what makes Madagascar so special. The animal and plant life of this great island is largely the result of a natural experiment in evolution on a land apart, but very much like our own. The Arrival of Humans People first came to Madagascar in boats about 2000 years ago. The oldest human-modified bones of extinct species appear in the fossil record at this time. Charcoal signals, found in lake sediments, increased dramatically during this period -- indicating an increase in fires. Pollen profiles, read from lake sediment cores, reveal the arrival of introduced plants, including marijuana. Archaeologists believe that Madagascar may have been an important stopping point along a trade route that ran from southeast Asia to east Africa. The cultural practices of the Malagasy people reflect their mixed Asiatic and African roots.

These dual roots are evident in the ceremony of exhuming, rewrapping, and reburying the skeletal remains of revered ancestors; rice paddy agriculture; cattle husbandry; and the Malagasy language itselfspoken by people who live in the interior of Borneo. Evolving into Oblivion When humans first arrived on Madagascar, there were at least 50 lemur species living on the island, the largest of which rivaled the body mass of a male gorilla or orangutan. Not one of the 33 lemur species that still survive on the island is as large as the smallest of the lemurs that disappeared from Madagascar during the past several millennia. Along with the giant lemurs, Madagascar was populated by other megafauna that have also since vanished. There were huge tortoises, giant predatory raptors, and pygmy hippopotamuses. There were gigantic flightless birds called elephant birds. These birds were larger than any other birds - living or extinct. They were heavier than the famous 10-foot-tall moas of New Zealand. The eggs of elephant birds could hold the fluid contents of about 180 chicken eggs!

There were no cats or dogs on Madagascar; rather there were strange primitive carnivores (mongooses, civets, and cryptoprocts), including one that weighed more than 10 kilograms. Over the past 2000 years, all of Madagascar's large endemic animals became extinct, and it is estimated that less than 3% of what was once a huge expanse of western deciduous forest exists today. Madagascar's unusual endemism makes it one of the world's top conservation priorities. But its endemic plants and animals continue to suffer from practices such as slash-and-burn agriculture and the harvesting of woody plants for charcoal and timber. Grasses are often deliberately burned to stimulate the growth of fresh blades to feed the cattle. Wild animals are sometimes also hunted. Because of the tremendous endemicity and wealth of plant and animal species on Madagascar, conservationists believe that forest destruction here may have a greater negative impact on global biodiversity than anywhere else on earth. Subfossil Finds Cave, marsh, and stream sites have yielded the bones of animals that lived on the great island prior to colonization by humans and during the past two millennia.

These subfossil sites, so-called because the bones are too fresh to have become fossilized, provide some direct evidence of the history of the long and slow decimation of Madagascar's wildlife following the arrival of humans. Recent explorations of some of these subfossil sites by a team from Duke University (North Carolina) and associated scientists (from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and the University of Madagascar in Antananarivo) have added enormously to our knowledge of the anatomy and adaptations of Madagascar's paleofauna. These scientists have explored, among other sites, the 110 kilometers of caves at the Ankarana mountains in northern Madagascar, and a pit called Ankilitelo that descends almost 500 feet deep in southwestern Madagascar. The subfossil sites contain the bones of elephant birds, pygmy hippopotamuses, giant tortoises and at least 17 species of extinct lemurs. The oldest radiocarbon-dated bones of extinct lemurs are about 12,000-26,000 years old.

The most recent are only 1000-500 years old -- proof that giant lemurs survived human occupation of the island by at least 1,500 years. There is also some circumstantial evidence that pygmy hippos may have been alive as recently as 100 years ago. Extinct Giants Fossil studies have concluded that the giant extinct lemurs of Madagascar were an extraordinarily diverse group. There was a giant aye-aye, a relative of the living aye-aye, but three to five times as heavy. Both living and extinct aye-ayes possess an elongated third digit and enormous rodent-like incisors  adaptations for extracting grubs and insect larvae from tunnels in dead wood. The robust extinct aye-aye is the only extinct lemur that clearly belongs to a non-extinct genus. Megaladapis was an orangutan-sized lemur with teeth very like those of the living sportive lemur (Lepilemur). Unlike the Lepilemur, however, Megaladapis had a long muzzle and widely separated eyes --very uncharacteristic of primates! Its feet were enormous pincer-like grasping devices. Its forelimbs were long and robust.

Paleontologists believe that it climbed trees like koalas and subsisted almost entirely on a diet of leaves. The Sloth lemurs, so named because of its remarkable convergences with tree-dwelling sloth of South and Central America, had crania and teeth that suggest a close relationship with some living lemurs (indris, sifakas, and avahis). The largest of the sloth lemurs was the gorilla-sized Archaeoindris, which probably spent a large amount of time on the ground. The most specialized was Palaeopropithecus, a chimpanzee-sized lemur with teeth like those of the sifaka, but bodies like those of arboreal sloths. These upside-down animals had long forelimbs and short hindlimbs, and enormous, hook-like hands and feet. Advancing the Research Thanks to the development of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques, it is now possible to extract ancient DNA from the bones of subfossil lemurs. DNA samples are currently being analyzed in a laboratory at Northwestern University in Chicago.

These methods will be used to test hypotheses of evolutionary relationship that were derived from the analysis of the skeletal morphology of extant and extinct lemurs. Dr. Laurie Godfrey has been involved with paleontological fieldwork in Madagascar since the mid-1980's. She received her PhD in biological anthropology at Harvard University in 1977, and currently teaches anthropology at the University of Massachesetts in Amherst. Lemurs of Madagascar More lemur photos Madagascar is world-famous for its lemurs—primates that look something like a cat crossed with a squirrel and a dog. These animals are unique to the island and display a range of interesting behaviors from singing like a whale (the indri) to sashaying across the sand like a ballet dancer (the sifaka). Below you will learn more about these fascinating creatures. Lemur history Madagascar lacks the dominant form of primate distributed worldwide, those of the suborder Haplorhini (monkeys, chimps, gorillas, and Homo sapiens). Instead, their niche has been filled by an older group of primates, the lemurs.

Lemurs belong to the sub-order Strepsirhini together with bushbabies, lorises, and pottos which—like the original lemurs—are nocturnal, insectivorous primates characterized by a small body, a long nose, and large eyes. Lemurs have an interesting evolutionary history and the only reason they still exist today is because of Madagascar's isolation. Until around 160 million years ago, Madagascar was attached to the African mainland as part of the super continent Gondwanaland (formed of Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, India, and Madagascar). As Gondwanaland broke apart, Madgascar moved away from Africa. The first lemur-like primates on the fossil record appeared roughly 60 million years ago in mainland Africa and crossed over to Madagascar shortly thereafter. The island continued to drift eastward and by the time monkeys appeared on the scene 17-23 million years ago, Madagascar was isolated from their arrival.

As highly intelligent and adaptive primates, monkeys quickly drove the lemur lineage elsewhere in the world toward extinction (a few Strepsirhines—including bushbabies, lorises, and pottos—managed to hang on by retaining their nocturnal, solitary, and insectivorous traits). Madagascar's lemurs—isolated from evolutionary changes of the world—radiated into the large island's many niches without much competition or predation. Today lemurs are found in virtually all of Madagascar's ecosystems and share some of the social and behavioral characteristics of monkeys (i.e., forming social groups, eating fruit and vegetation, and being active during the day). Upper primates did not reach Madagascar until about they learned to navigate the high seas and arrived on boats roughly 2,000 years ago. Humans quickly went to work on the island's lemurs, reducing the number of species found in Madagascar by at least 15. The largest species suffered the most and today the largest remaining lemur is the Indri which would have been dwarfed by the gorilla-sized species once found on the island. Currently all lemurs are endangered species, due mainly to habitat destruction (deforestation) and hunting .

Lemurs today Today Madagascar is home to nearly 60 "taxa" of lemurs (species, sub-species, and populations from 33 species across five families and 14 genera) ranging in size from the 25-gram pygmy mouse lemur to the indri. All these species are endemic to Madagascar (two lemur species were introduced to the Comoros) giving the country the second highest number of primate species after Brazil, which has 77 species (only two endemic genera and no endemic families). And new species are still being discovered— primate researchers speculate that 10-20 new species of lemurs may be described over the next generation. Global importance of Madagascar's lemurs According to Russell Mittermeier in The Eighth Continent , although Madagascar "is only one of 92 countries with wild primate populations, it is alone responsible for 21 percent (14 of 65) of all primate genera and 36 percent (five of 14) of all primate families, making it the single highest priority" for primate conservation.

"Madagascar is so important for primates that primatologists divide the world into four major regions: the whole of South and Central America, all of southern and southeast Asia, mainland Africa, and Madagascar, which ranks as a full-fledged region all by itself." Behavior Non-scientists generally group lemurs by their primary time of activity: day or night. Noctural lemurs are typically smaller and more reclusive than their diurnal counterparts. Lemurs are vocal animals, making sounds that range from the grunts and swears of brown lemurs and sifaka to the chirps of mouse lemurs to the eerie, wailing call of the indri, which has been likened to a cross between a police siren and the song of a humpback whale. Lemur species counts for selected parks: Protected Area conservation is saving lemurs and helping people in Madagascar (5/7/2007) Madagascar, an island nation that lies off the coast of southeastern Africa, has long been famous for its unique and diverse species of wildlife, especially lemurs--primates found nowhere else on the planet.

In recent years, the island country has also become world-renowned for conservation efforts that are succeeding in spite of extraordinary pressures from a poor population that relies heavily on forest burning for basic subsistence. A large part of this success is due to the early efforts of Patricia Wright, a primatologist who has been working in the country for more than 20 years. Wright led the effort to launch the country's leading protected area and helped Madagascar become a leading global example of conservation despite its economic adversity. Lemurs at risk due to invasion of feral beasts, global warming (2/7/2007) The lemurs of Madagascar are among the world's most threatened primates. Extensive habitat destruction, hunting, and the introduction of alien species have doomed dozens of species to extinction since humans first arrived on the island within the past 2000 years. Most of the casualties were Madagascar's largest lemurs -- today the biggest lemur is but a fraction of the gorilla-sized giants that once ruled the island. Despite this relative impoverishment of megafauna, Madagascar still boasts nearly 90 kinds of lemurs, all of which are unique to the island (save one species that was probably introduced to some nearby islands).

Lemurs display a range of unusual behvaiors from singing like a whale (the indri) to sashaying across the sand like a ballet dancer (the sifaka). Interest in lemurs has helped Madagascar become a global conservation priority, though they are still at risk. Continued deforestation, scattered hunting, and looming climate change all pose significant threats to some lemur populations. One largely unexamined threat comes from introduced species such as the Indian civet and mongoose, but especially dogs and cats that have become feral. In search of wildlife, while dodging leeches, in Madagascar's unexplored rainforest (2/5/2007) It is called a rainforest for a reason--because it rains.... and rains. As my field partner, Angelin Razafimanantsoa, and I make our way down muddy mountainsides in the endless downpour, we stop only long enough to pick squirming, bloodthirsty leeches off each other's face. Hours pass as we wade through knee-deep streams rushing over smooth, slippery rocks and thick forest stands. Seven hours ago, we anticipated arriving at our next base camp in three hours' time.

Now, as night is falling, it seems we have at least five hours more to go. Lemurs communicate by scent (1/29/2007) Ringtailed lemurs can recognize each other by scent according to a study published in the current issue of the journal Animal Behaviour. The research, conducted by Elizabeth S. Scordato and Christine M. Drea of Duke University, looked at olfactory communication in the ringtailed lemur, a charismatic primate that forms complex social groups led by a dominant female, so see what information is contained within the scent marks of the species. 3 new lemur species identified in Madagascar (11/27/2006) Genetic analysis has revealed three previously unknown species of lemurs on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. The newly described lemurs are all mouse lemurs, one of the world's smallest primates. These lively lemurs are found in virtually all of Madagascar's forests where they feed on insects, fruit, and plant sap. Nocturnal, mouse lemurs betray their presence with high-pitched chirps.

Lemur conservation in Madagascar requires poverty alleviation initiatives (11/5/2006) Madagascar, an island larger than France that lies off the southeastern coast of Africa, is perhaps best known for its lemurs--primates that look something like a cat crossed with a squirrel and a dog. Lemurs, which are found naturally only in Madagascar, serve as a charismatic representation of the island's biodiversity and its problems. Since the arrival of humans some 2000 years ago from southeast Asia, Madagascar has lost all of its mega fauna and more than 90 percent of its wildlands. Today forest clearing for agriculture and hunting continues to put lemurs and other endemic species at risk. The good news is that because of Madagascar's biodiversity, the island has become a top priority for global conservation. At the forefront of these efforts is the Madagascar Fauna Group (MFG), an international consortium of zoos and related organizations that work to protect Madagascar's wildlife and ecosystems, and the Duke University Lemur Center, the one of the world's leading lemur research facilities. Charlie Welch, currently a research scientist at the Duke University Lemur Center, recently answered some questions on his experiences in lemur conservation.

Welch, along with his wife Andrea Katz, has worked in Madagascar for 17 years and helped transform conservation efforts in the country. Climate Change Threatens Lemurs (9/18/2006) Tropical rainforests are among the most stable environments on Earth, but they are still no match for global climate change. Dr. Patricia Wright, the widely admired primatologist and Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, finds that climate change could mean the difference between survival and extinction for endangered lemurs. Orangutans and chimps are smarter than monkeys and lemurs (8/1/2006) The great apes are the smartest of all nonhuman primates according to scientists at Duke University Medical Center. The researchers found that orangutans and chimpanzees consistently outperformed monkeys and lemurs on a variety of intelligence tests, conclusively proving that apes are more intelligent than monkeys and prosimians. Rare indri lemur born in forest reserve in Madagascar (7/13/2006) A rare lemur known for its haunting whale-like call has given birth in a reserve outside its native forest.

The news is significant because the Indri, as the world's largest living lemur is known, has traditionally done poorly when kept in captivity or introduced to outside its montane forest in Madagascar. The birth occurred at Palmarium, a small private reserve of lowland tropical forest established by a tour operator in Madagascar, and provides further hope for the successful conservation of the endangered species. Why does Madagascar have so many unique animals? (5/24/2006) Scientists have developed the first comprehensive theory to explain Madagascar's rich biodiversity. Madagascar, larger than California and about size the size of Texas or France, is the world's fourth largest island. Isolated in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southern Africa, about 70% of the estimated 250,000 species found on the island exist nowhere else on the globe. The island is home to such evolutionary oddities as lemurs, a group of primates endemic to the island; brilliantly colored lizards including geckos and chameleons; tenrecs, spiny hedgehog-like creatures; and the fossa, a carnivorous animal that looks like a cross between a puma and a dog but is closely related to the mongoose.

Madagascar establishes new park system to protect lemurs, benefit people (1/17/2006) Madagascar has created a new agency for managing the parks of the Indian Ocean island nation. The System of Protected Areas of Madagascar, or SAPM, simplifies the legal process used to create a protected areas, while providing for flexibility for local people to earn a living from conservation activities. Lemur hunting persists in Madagascar, rare primates fall victim to hunger (7/17/2005) While it has been illegal to kill or keep lemurs as pets since 1964, lemurs are hunted where they are not protected by local taboos. Many lemurs are particularly easy targets for hunting because evolution has rendered them ecologically naive in that without natural predators over the majority of their existence, they are less fearful than they should be. Madagascar lemurs descended from single primate ancestor, finds study (7/11/2005) Yale biologists have managed to extract and analyze DNA from giant, extinct lemurs, according to a Yale study published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Evolutionary analysis of the DNA obtained from the extinct giants reveals that they, like the living lemurs, are descended from a single primate ancestor that colonized Madagascar more than 60 million years ago. Dancing lemur attracts tourists to island of Madagascar (5/30/2005) In the dry deciduous forests of south western Madagascar there lives a lemur that loudly cusses but "dances" like a ballet performer. Verreaux's sifaka is among the most popular of lemur species, a group of primates endemic to islands off the southeastern coast of Africa. While threatened, Verreaux's sifaka is easily spotted is several of Madagascar's more accessible parks. Rainforest Canopy - Primates (3/1/2005) Primates are characteristic of every continental rainforest realm, except for the Australasian realm, and are made up of nearly 200 living species in more than 50 genera. Primates are thought to have originated from their insectivore-like ancestors between 100 million and 65 million years ago.

The ancient primates most resembled lemurs and the tarsier of today, and upper primates did not appear until 37 to 23 million years ago. Upper primates include monkeys, apes, chimps, and humans, and the non-human species are generally divided into Old World monkeys and New World monkeys. Lemur links Duke University's Lemur taxa - includes extinct lemur species Find a mistake? Want to submit pictures or content? Contact WildMadagascar.org Harmony Kingdom Search And Rescue Ring Tailed Lemur - Animal Emporium Figurines, Collectibles and Gifts Harmony Kingdom Search And Rescue Ring Tailed Lemur Other products by Harmony Kingdom Item #: (min 1, max 1) 1 available Add to Wishlist Add to Cart Description Original Carving Date: 2007 - Release Date: 6/05/2007 Fixed Edition - Edition size: 600 Artist: Peter Calvesbert - Made in UK Retired 2.64" wide, 2" long, 3.14" high. Over the years, Peter has been asked numerous times to carve lemurs and now, after several attempts, he has succeeded.

His Ring Tailed Lemurs are portrayed on the look-out, searching for trees in their native Madagascar. This island country off the southeast cost of Africa has lost 80% of its forests. The inscribed names are those of other lemurs that are highly endangered or extinct. One of them, the Aye-Aye, is considered a bad omen by some islanders and is often killed. “Kelsa”, written on the lid, is not a lemur but a UK collector who has been waiting longer than most for Peter to carve this small, arboreal primate. The interior shows a sad lemur and lots of tree stumps. As with any hand-tinted product, item received will be similar but unique. More Items in HARMONY KINGDOM Wild Cam: TWS Members Find What’s Eating Lemurs in Madagascar | THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY Wild Cam: TWS Members Find What’s Eating Lemurs in Madagascar By Joshua Rapp Learn Posted on September 21, 2015 Image Credit: Asia Murphy Despite having one of the highest rates of endemism in the world, relatively little is known about animals in Madagascar.

But wildlife in much of the country is suffering from habitat loss and fragmentation as forests are cut down to make way for farming. Predator-prey relations are also changing as a result of hunting and an increase in feral cats and dogs. “Madagascar is a top conservation priority,” said Zach Farris, a student member of The Wildlife Society and an author of a recent study published in the International Journal of Primatology that attempts to estimate the population density of carnivores in the island country. This latest Wild Cam series examines what Farris, coauthor Marcella Kelly ­— also a TWS member and an associate professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — and others discovered in their camera trap study in Makira National Park in northeastern Madagascar. Image Credit: Zach J.

Farris and the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar Program and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The researchers looked at three species of lemurs — the white-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur albifrons), mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus) and woolly lemurs (genus Avahi ) — and, based on camera trap photos, determined whether they could predict if predators like these two ring-tailed vontsiras (Galidia elegans) were more or less likely to show up in the same area. Vontsiras, a native carnivore species related to mongooses, feed on a number of small lemurs and other species. The researchers found that the presence of carnivores like these was a good predictor of the absence of certain species like mouse and woolly lemurs. Image Credit: Zach J. Farris and the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar Program and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University A cat carries a native rodent in its mouth. “This photo helped us demonstrate the presence of this exotic predator in this forest site and highlight their ability to successfully hunt and kill native species,” Farris said.

Cats have been shown to kill and consume a number of native species from rodents and birds to tenrecs (family: Tenrecidae) and even lemurs. One of the southernmost populations of silky sifakas (Propithecus candidus) known to exist sits in a tree. “There are believed to be less than 250 individual silkies remaining in the world and this population is facing intense pressure from an expanding cat population at this forest site,” Farris said. Image Credit: J. Farris and the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar Program and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The study showed that the country’s largest carnivore, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), is typically smaller than feral cats and dogs that were captured in the forest habitat. Farris also found that fossas and other native species turned up less in fragmented forests where humans and feral cats and dogs also occur. Image Credit: Asia Murphy It’s not necessarily all in the eyes when you have such a distinct territory call as the indri (Indri indri), one of the Madagascar’s largest lemur species.

“This critically endangered lemur species is threatened due to forest loss, bush meat consumption, and the spread of exotic carnivores,” Farris said. “We believe its very loud calls may make it an easier target for exotic dogs and cats to locate and hunt.” Image Credit: Zach J. Farris and the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar Program and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University A feral dog investigates a greater hedgehog tenrec (Setifer setosus), endemic to the island country. Farris said that dogs prey on tenrec species and lemurs. “Our work across Madagascar has shown that many native species have much lower probability of occupancy in the presence of dogs,” he said. Other species like mouse lemurs also didn’t occur where feral dogs, cats or native predators appeared in contiguous forest, showing that they may be avoiding these areas when they had elsewhere to go. Image Credit: Zach J. Farris and the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar Program and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University A female white-fronted brown lemur looking alert. These lemurs were one of the few studied that avoided areas with native predators like the fossa but didn’t avoid areas with humans, feral cats or dogs.

“This may demonstrate evidence of a threatened lemur species successfully avoiding native predators while failing to avoid an unknown, alien predator,” Farris said. “The relationship between humans and dogs in this region is quite strong as dogs often travel with their owners into the forest when they travel there to work or collect materials,” Farris said. “It is believed that while in the forest, dogs are then allowed to travel freely and hunt for food. Some local people even train their dogs to assist with bush meat hunting activities, which have been shown to be widespread and prevalent across this region of Madagascar. Our research demonstrates that the presence of these dogs within the rainforest, and the local people they travel with, poses an added pressure to these already threatened and endangered lemur species occupying these forests.” An aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), the “world’s most bizarre and unique primate” according to Farris, using its trademark feeding technique of knocking on wood to locate insects before chewing into the bark with special teeth and using a large middle finger to scoop them out. “The aye aye is listed as endangered by the IUCN as it requires a very large home range and is threatened by forest loss and persecution by local people,” Farris said.

Overall, he says that the kind of avoidance most lemurs showed to native and introduced predators in contiguous forests weren’t as strong in fragmented forests. “As these forests become patchier and lemurs have less ability to move freely in the forest, they are encountering dogs and cats and humans a lot more,” he said. This photo essay is part of an ongoing series from The Wildlife Society featuring photos and video images of wildlife taken with camera traps. Check out other entries in the series here . If you’re working on an interesting camera trap research project and have photos you’d like to share, email Joshua at jlearn@wildlife.org. Joshua Rapp Learn is a science writer at The Wildlife Society. Harmony Kingdom: Search and Rescue - Unique Gifts Search and Rescue Availability: Yes as of 01/19/2017 this item is In Stock. $7.99 shipping on all orders under $100.

Contiguous USA - Excludes Alaska & Hawaii Price: $75.00 Edition Size: Fixed edition of 600 worldwide Ship Date: October 2007 Over the years, Master Carver Peter Calvesbert has been asked numerous times to carve lemurs and now, after several attempts, he has succeeded. His Ring Tailed Lemurs are portrayed on the look-out, searching for trees in their native Madagascar. This island country off the southeast cost of Africa has lost 80% of its forests. The inscribed names are those of other lemurs that are highly endangered or extinct. One of them, the Aye-Aye, is considered a bad omen by some islanders and is often killed. ï¿½Kelsaï¿½, written on the lid, is not a lemur but a UK collector who has been waiting longer than most for Peter to carve this small, arboreal primate. The interior shows a sad lemur and lots of tree stumps. Be sure to register with us to stay up to date on Harmony Kingdom sales, news, and updates! Contact Us | Our Store | Product Lines | Sitemap | Mobile Site | Events | Join | Privacy Policy Thanks for shopping with us.

Didn't find what you where looking for, or need more information? Unique Gifts wants to help. Please call or email us and we would be more than happy to assist you. *Receive FREE Ground Shipping to the lower 48 States (excludes Alaska and Hawaii) on all purchases of $100 or more before tax (if applicable). Offer limited to stock on hand and Sale priced items do not qualify. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us . Unique Gifts & Collectibles is a Southern California based retailer of Armani, Ebony Visions, Harmony Kingdom, Swarovski, Walt Disney Classics Collection, wee Forest Folk and other lines. We make every effort to provide accurate and updated information on our on-line gallery; regrettably, there will be times when errors occur. Also, due to the forces of supply and demand within the collectibles market, prices posted are subject to change at any time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Lemur (Lemur Catta) - Animals - A-Z Animals Five groups that classify all living things Animalia A group of animals within the animal kingdom Chordata A group of animals within a pylum Mammalia A group of animals within a class Primates A group of animals within an order Lemuridae Comprised of the genus followed by the species Lemur Catta The animal group that the species belongs to Mammal What kind of foods the animal eats Omnivore How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is 9-100cm (3.2-39in) The measurement of how heavy the animal is 0.03-10kg (0.06-22lbs) The fastest recorded speed of the animal 20km/h (12mph) How long the animal lives for 10-14 years Whether the animal is solitary or sociable Group The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct Least Concern The colour of the animal's coat or markings Grey, Brown, White, Black The protective layer of the animal Fur The specific area where the animal lives Dry forest and tropical jungle The average number of babies born at once 3 Other animals that hunt and

 eat the animal Hawk, Fossa, Wild dogs Long body and tail and large eyes Lemur Location Map of Africa Lemur The lemurs is a primate native to the island of Madagascar , a large island off the south east coast of Africa .

There are approximately 10 different species of lemur inhabiting the island where the lemurs spend most of their time in the trees. Lemurs are best known for their large, round reflective eyes and their wailing screams. Lemurs also have furry, pointed ears and long tails, with lemurs often being compared to both monkeys and squirrels. The lemur will eat most small things from berries, nuts and leaves to insects and spiders and therefore the lemur has an omnivorous diet . Lemurs get most of their food from the surrounding trees but lemurs will occasionally forage for grub on the forest floor if they have no luck in the branches. The black and white ruffed lemur , the russet mouse lemur , the woolly lemur , the aye aye and the ring tail lemur are among the most common species of lemur found in Madagascar , although the Aye Aye is considered to be a species of lemur very different from the rest, mainly due to the long middle fingers of the aye aye which it uses to get food out of holes. There are four main types of lemur containing nearly 100 different lemur subspecies between them.

The biggest threat to the lemur is deforestation, with around 90% of the Madagascan jungle having been destroyed. This means that the lemur populations are declining rapidly as the lemur has fewer trees to make its home in. The apex predator of Madagascar , the fossa , is also a big threat to the lemur , as lemurs are one of the favourite meals of a fossa . The lemur has fast reactions and is very agile which allows it to try to escape the fossa , but the fossa is a very stubborn and lightening quick animal , so the lemur generally becomes dinner. The most commonly known species of lemur is the ring-tailed lemur . with this lemur being very distinctive by the black and white ring markings on the lemurs tail. The ring-tailed lemur has a grey coloured fur and white tufts on its ears. Lemurs are small-medium sized primates with adult lemurs growing to a maximum of around 70 cm tall (plus their long tail which is often nearly as long as the body of the lemur).

Lemurs also have sharp claws on their feet which enable the lemur to hold onto tree branches, particularly useful when the lemur is trying to escape from a hungry fossa ! Lemurs are one of the few animals that live in a matriarchal society, which means that the female lemurs have more control over the group than the male lemurs . These lemur groups however, behave in a very similar way to other primates as they feed and groom each other, as well as sleeping close to one another. It is not known why lemurs exhibit this rare form of social structure. Share This Article

Question: The arboreal primate known as the Lemur is native to which island country?
Answer: MADAGASCAR