Lemur

Lemur

Lemur (/ˈliːmər/; from Latin lemures – ghosts or spirits) is a type of primate known as a prosimian, part of the suborder Strepsirrhini. The term "lemur" is derived from the Latin word lemures, which means "spirits of the night". This likely refers to many lemurs' nocturnal behavior and their ghostly vocalizations.

Etymology

The word "lemur" comes from the Latin lemures, which refers to specters or ghosts that were exorcised during the Lemuria festival in ancient Rome. It is likely that this name was given to the lemur because of its nocturnal habits and its slow pace, but also because of the ghostly sounds that some species emit.

Classification

Lemurs belong to the biological order Primates. The group is divided into the superfamilies Lemuroidea, Lorisidae, and Galagidae. Lemurs are further divided into around 100 known species, which are all endemic to the island of Madagascar.

Anatomy and physiology

Lemurs are small to medium-sized primates, ranging in weight from 30 grams (1.1 oz) to 9 kilograms (20 lb). They share many common, basal primate traits, such as divergent digits on their hands and feet and nails instead of claws (in most species). However, their brain-to-body size ratio is smaller than that of anthropoid primates.

Behavior

Most lemurs are arboreal animals, spending most of their time in the trees of the rainforests of Madagascar, although some species spend a significant amount of time on the ground. They are diurnal or nocturnal, depending on the species.

Conservation

Lemurs are among the world's most endangered animals, with nearly all species facing some level of threat due to habitat loss, hunting, and the pet trade. Conservation efforts are being made to protect these unique creatures.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Lemur
• Wikipedia's article - Lemur

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