Top 10 Interesting Facts About Lemurs

Lemurs are cute primates that live in the wild in Madagascar. Most lemurs are small and they have different looks.

They are divided into 8 families and consist of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. Lemurs are among the world’s oldest living primates.

In this article, you will learn the top 10 most interesting facts about lemurs.

Scientific profile

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Infraorder: Lemuriformes
Superfamily: Lemuroidea

The word “Lemur” originates from the Latin word Lemures, which means “Evil Spirit of the Dead.” Maybe they got this name because of their humanoid bodies and nocturnal behaviours, but the “evil” part is still a little unfair.

10 Facts About Lemurs

1. Lemurs Are Only Found in Madagascar

One of the most interesting facts about lemurs is that they are native to Madagascar. This means that you will only find them in the wild of Madagascar, swinging from tree to tree.

Lemurs are only found in Madagascar because the island is isolated and does not have predators. The only big catlike animal in Madagascar is the Fossa.

In the animated movie titled Madagascar, King Julien is a ring-tailed lemur, Maurice is an aye-aye, and Mort is a mouse lemur.

2. They Have Unique Social Structures

The social structure of lemurs is quite different from some other primates. This is because they live in matriarchal societies, where females are the dominant members of the group.

Male lemurs act differently towards females depending on the species. For example, a male ring-tailed lemur may become submissive to a dominant female lemur, but a male crowned lemur will only be submissive when the females are aggressive.

3. Lemurs Are Nocturnal

Most lemur species are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. But not all lemurs are nocturnal.

For example, Mouse lemurs and Aye-aye are nocturnal, while Ring-tailed lemurs are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.

Lemurs have developed reflective eyes that are suitable for sight in low-light conditions.

4. Lemurs Are the Only Non-Human Primates With Blue Eyes

Many primates are known to have brown or dark eyes, except for humans and the blue-eyed black lemurs.

The blue-eyed black lemur is also known as Sclater’s lemur. These lemurs have strong hands, and their palms look like humans with a rubbery texture that gives them a firm grip on branches.

Males are mostly black-haired, while females are redish-brown-haired.

They are scattered throughout the forests in the northwestern region of Madagascar. You can find them from the Andranomalaza River in the north to the Maevarano River in the south.

5. They Have a Diverse Diet

Lemurs are omnivores, and their diet can vary depending on the species.

In the forest, the main food sources for lemurs are fruits, leaves, flowers, and insects. While some species eat a mix of these foods, some focus more on leaves and plant material.

For example, the diet of Ring-tailed lemurs is a mix of fruits, flowers, and small animals, while other lemurs, like the Indri, are more herbivorous, focussing on leaves.

6. Lemurs are Seed Dispersers and Pollinators

Lemurs have a fruit eating habit that helps the forests in Madagascar grow. They are important seed dispersers for different plants in the forest.

When lemurs eat, pollen and seeds get stuck on their fur and faces. Then they are passed to other flowers and plants.

Also, when lemurs eat fruits, some seeds pass through their digestive tract and are left behind on the soil. This allows certain seeds to grow in the wild.

7. Indri Lemurs are Singers

Have you heard animals sing before? I’m not talking about birds. Some primates, like lemurs, also have musical talent.

The indri, which is also called the babakoto, is the only lemur indris lemurs that sing. They live in small family groups and sing together as a group.

Their singing is a series of loud vocalisations that last for a few minutes. Each member will copy each other’s notes and rhythms in cohesion.

8. Lemurs Are Endangered

Lemur faces the risk of extinction due to habitat loss and hunting. At least 106 lemurs currently exist in Madagascar.

Since forests are being cleared for agriculture and logging their homes, survival is being threatened.

According to Wikipedia, giant lemurs once existed in Madagascar. All 17 extinct lemur species were larger than the present-day lemurs.

9. Male Ring-Tailed Lemurs Engage in “Stink Fights”

Ring-tailed lemurs are the most popular lemur species due to their iconic long, black and white ringed tail. Another factor that contributes to their popularity is the Madagascar movies.

When it comes down to settling a dispute for food, territory, and access to mates, male ring-tailed lemurs choose to compete with each other by engaging in stink fights.

Instead of using their claws and teeth, they rub their tails on scent glands and then wave them at rivals to assert dominance.

The scent glands of male ring-tailed lemurs are located on their shoulders and wrists. The fur around their tails absorbs the odour from the glands, and they then flick their tails at each other.

10. Lemurs Self-Medicate

Lemurs are very intelligent primates. Due to their intelligence, they can self-medicate and stay safe in the wild.

For example, the red-fronted lemurs have figured out a clever way to deal with parasites like mosquitoes. They chew on millipedes to create an orange-coloured substance that is then applied to their fur to repel parasites.

They also use millipedes to treat and prevent conditions such as itching or weight loss caused by parasites in and around their guts.

Bonus

Here is a bonus fact for reading to this point.

People fear the Aye-Aye Lemur

Due to the appearance of the Aye-Aye Lemurs, many people are afraid of them.

This lemur species has long, spindly fingers and piercing eyes that lead people to believe that they are evil spirits.

In some parts of Madagascar, Aye-ayes is greatly believed to be evil. This is not just because of their looks.

Aye-ayes have long, thin hands and also a unique ball-and-socket joint that lets them swivel their long middle finger 360 degrees.

The local Malagasy people have several stories that depict the aye-aye as a monster; one folklore states that an aye aye can curse you if it points its long finger at you.

The aye-aye are peaceful nocturnal primates that spend most of their lives on trees.

Final Words

If you read the article to this point, congratulations! You now know more facts about lemurs than when you started.

If you plan on visiting Madagascar, you must see these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat. You will love it.

You can also explore our other articles about lemurs.

FAQs

How long does a lemur live?

Lemurs can live up to 18 years in the wild and over 30 years in captivity.

Can a lemur lay eggs?

No, lemurs cannot lay eggs. Lemurs are mammals that belong to the primate order. Almost all mammals give birth to live young.

How fast can lemurs run?

Lemurs can run up to speeds of 12 mph. This statistic is according to the Hertfordshire Zoo.

Louis Ojibe

Hi, I’m Louis Ojibe, and I grew up around wildlife in Africa. I have always been fascinated by animals and nature across the world.
As a child, my parents used to take me to see wild animals like lions, elephants, gorillas, tortoises, and many others at our local zoo.