Lemurs are primates, but not monkeys nor apes. They are a group of primates referred to often as prosimians (along with the lorises, bush babies, pottos and tarsiers). Lemurs are found only on Madagascar and a couple of small surrounding islands (where monkeys and apes do not occur).
Madagascar is a sanctuary for Lemurs. Introduced long ago by the island's first inhabitants, Lemurs are now only found on Madagascar and on the Comoro Islands. Madagascar is home to nine-tenths of all the world's lemur species. 30 species of lemur are currently recognized. Because of destruction of their habitat (deforestation) by humans, their number are steadily dwindling. So, some species are in danger and at extreme risk of extinction.
How to take pictures of Lemurs ?
Do be sure to take photographs of lemurs. The best way to get a good shot is to catch them when they are sunbathing in the early morning. They spread their arms to soak up all available heat and will remain motionless long enough for a good picture...
History
Although it was once thought that lemurs were on Madagascar when the island separated from Africa, recent advances in geological science have shown that Madagascar was separated from Africa long before primates evolved. We now assume that the ancestors of Madagascar's lemurs have crossed over from Africa on floating vegetation. Once on Madagascar, the lemurs underwent an amazing radiation, evolving into about 50 different species. Then, about 2,000 years ago, the first human settlers arrived on Madagascar. By the time the Europeans reached Madagascar in the mid-1600s, 15 species of lemurs had become extinct! All of these 15 subfossil lemur species were larger than any of the surviving species.
The largest of these was Archaeoindris, which is estimated to have weighed 160-200 kg, or as much as an adult male gorilla! Another group, the sloth lemurs including Babakotia and Paleopropithecus, weighed 20kg and 40kg respectively, and appear to have traveled by hanging upside from branches like current South American sloths. Another unusual extinct lemur, Megaladapis, (40-80 kg) appears to have to hung onto trees much like an Australian koala. The loss forever of these bizarre and wonderful animals in the recent past is tragic.
The species living today are small to medium sized mammals ranging from the tiny pygmy mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) which weighs only 30 grams (about 1 ounce!), to the largest lemurs, the Indri (Indri indri) and the Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema diadema) which may weigh slightly over 7 kg (7,000 grams or about 15 pounds).
Lemurs are mammals, and more specifically, primates--as are monkeys, apes and humans. Lemurs resemble advanced primates chiefly in the structure of their hands and feet. With the exception of the indri (Indri indri), lemurs have long furry tails. They use these tails for balance when leaping through the forest canopy, but unlike New World monkeys, these tails are not prehensile, and lemurs cannot hang from them.
Habitat
Various species of lemurs can be found in habitats as different as the lush, wet, rainforest of eastern Madagascar and the very dry spiny desert in the southwest.
Lemurs spend most of their time in trees or large bushes, although the ringtail lemur, the most terrestrial species, may spend as much as half of its day on the ground. Some lemurs are nocturnal, others are active at dusk and a few are diurnal. The smaller species tend to be nocturnal, but most of the larger species are active during the day.
Food
Lemurs feed primarily on leaves and fruits, and most are arboreal. For some of nocturnal lemurs, insects form a large part of their diet. Some lemurs eat bird's eggs, birds and reptiles.
Lemurs fill an important ecological role on the island of Madagascar. These primates often feed on an assortment of seasonal fruits and as they travel throughout their environment, they disperse undigested seeds in their manure. The seeds soon sprout to replenish the vegetation that sustains Madagascar's unique inhabitants. This is very important on an island where over 80% of the original habitats have been lost to logging and agriculture.
