The lemurs are the most primitive members of the order Primates, which includes the monkeys. Today, lemurs are found in Madagascar, Africa, and parts of Asia. At one time they also lived in America and Europe where their fossil remains have been found.

Lemurs differ from other Primates in having a long fox-like face, and a long claw instead of a nail on the second toe. All the lemurs are arboreal(live in trees). You don’t very often see a lemur in a zoo, because apparently they don’t survive too well in captivity.

Lemurs live on a mixed diet which may include fruit, seeds, insects, birds’ eggs, or meat. Some of them are diurnal (active in the daytime) and some are nocturnal (active at night).

There are many different kinds of lemurs and some of them are quite interesting. One large lemur lives in Madagascar and is called the “sifaka.” It is brightly colored—white with black, red, or brown markings. There is a fold of skin between its arms and body that is probably a help to it in its long leaps from one tree to another.

Another group of lemurs is called the “true lemurs,” of which 13 kinds live in Madagascar. They have long tails and vary greatly in color. The smallest of the lemurs is 13 centimeters in length and has a tail of 15 centimeters. It is known as the “mouse femur”. These little animals store fat around the base of the tail in good times. During the dry season when food is scarce, they sleep in a hollow tree, living off the fat in the tail.

The aye-aye is very different tom other Madagascar lemurs. It has very large ears, long coarse fur, a long bushy tail, and long fingers. Its big toes have nails, but the other fingers and toes have claws. One kind of lemur, the tarsier, has a neck so flexible that, without turning its body, it can turn its head to look backwards!

(Madagascar is now generally called Malagasy).