LEMUR

generally, any of the more primitive primates except the tree shrews. In this sense, the term covers not only the typical lemurs (family Lemuridae) but also the avahi, indri, sifaka, aye-aye, loris, potto, and galago (qq.v.). All these animals are characterized by a naked, moist tip to the muzzle; comblike, forward-directed lower front teeth; and a clawlike nail on the second toe of the foot. Typical lemurs are slender primates that are found only on Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They have large eyes, foxlike faces, monkeylike bodies, and long hind limbs. Lemurs range in length (excluding the tail) from about 13 cm (5 inches) in the dwarf lemur to about 60 cm in the true lemurs. The bushy tails of lemurs may be longer than their bodies. The animals' woolly fur is reddish, gray, brown, or black; some species are variously marked or striped. Lemurs are lower on the evolutionary scale and are less intelligent than monkeys. Their sense of smell is more acute, but they lack binocular vision. Lemurs are docile, gregarious animals, and some species live in groups of 10 or more. Most are active at night and sleep during the day. Lemurs spend most of their time in the trees, eating fruits, leaves, buds, insects, and small birds and birds' eggs. Some species are more carnivorous than others. A single young is usually born after two to five months' gestation, and it clings to its mother's underside until it is old enough to ride on her back. The family Lemuridae includes three genera and about nine species, with the typical genus being that of the true lemurs (Lemur). The best known of these is the ring-tailed lemur (L. catta), which is unique in both its habitat (the dry, rocky areas of Madagascar) and in its striped tail, since all other lemurs have solid-coloured tails. This is the lemur most commonly seen in zoos. Another species of true lemur is the black lemur (L. macaco), in which the male is black and the female is reddish brown. Another genus within the family Lemuridae is that of the nocturnal, bamboo-eating gentle lemurs (Hapalemur). The sportive lemurs make up a separate family (Lepilemuridae), as do the dwarf (Cheirogaleus) and mouse (Microcebus) lemurs, which together make up the family Cheirogaleidae. Mouse and dwarf lemurs are small types that store fat in their rumps and tails and estivate during dry periods. A number of lemurs are listed in the Red Data Book as rare or endangered animals. Lemurs first appeared in the Early Eocene Epoch (57.8 to 52 million years ago), though their origins may be traced to the preceding Paleocene Epoch. These early lemuroids were moderately abundant and are found as fossils in deposits in North America and Europe. One Eocene form, /a>Notharctus (q.v.), is particularly well-known from complete fossil remains. At the close of the Eocene (36.6 million years ago), Notharctus and related forms disappeared from the Northern Hemisphere. The lemurs continued in tropical forests, however, and were particularly successful in Madagascar, where they were relatively free from competition with more advanced primates.