Lemurs
Lemurs can be found naturally only on Madagascar. Due to the separation of Madagascar from the African continent, lemurs became safe from competition and evolved into many species. About 63 types have been identified todate. All lemurs are endangered and 15 species are already extinct, mainly because of deforesting and hunting. The largest ever living type of lemur was the Archaeoindris with its weight ranging between 160 and
200 kg. It became extinct when humans first settled in Madagascar about 2000 years ago.
Lemurs are mainly vegetarian, generally they eat fruits and leaves. Some are night active, whilst others are active during the day or at dawn. Their habitats include the tropical lowland rainforest and the mountainous rainforest (up to
800 m) or the dry bushland in the south. Nearly all lemurs spend most of their time in the trees. They use their voices, smells and legs for communication.
The term "lemur" has derived from the Latin "lemures", which means "spirit of the nights". This likely refers to many lemurs and their night active behaviour and large, reflective eyes.
Lemurs of the Palmarium near the Bushhouse The lemurs which can be found in the Palmarium are mostly:
Indri Indri, Verreaux's Sifaka, Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur, Black Lemur, Red-bellied Lemur, Crowned Lemur, Gray Bamboo Lemur and the Brown Mouse Lemur.
Indri Indri - Indri indri variegatus The Indri Indri can only be found in the eastern rain forest. With a weight of 7 to
10 kg they are the largest of all lemurs living today. They are about
70 cm in height and have a stumpy tail. The colour of their fur is mostly black and white. The Indri Indri lives in groups of two to five individuals. The females are dominant over males. These day active lemurs mark their territory with extreme loud morning calls. They are strictly vegetarian, predominantly eating young leaves, flowers and fruits. They move from trunk to trunk in upright position. Palm and plant nests are characteristic for these lemurs.
Verreaux's Sifaka - Propithecus verreauxi These lemurs have a weight of 3 to
5 kg, a length of about
45 cm and a tail of approximately
55 cm. Their woolly fur is mostly white and the top of the head is brown. The ears are short and almost hidden in the fur. They live in family groups of 2 - 12 members. Females are dominant over males. The Verreaux's Sifaka move vertically between the trees. On the ground they hop on their hind legs. Their vegetarien diet includes leaves, flowers and fruits, depending on the season. These day active lemurs spend the night sleeping in plant nests high up in the trees. During the day they sunbathe with outstretched arms and legs.
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur - Varecia variegata variegata The Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur can be found in the eastern rain forest of Madagascar. Head and body length is approximately
60 cm with a tail of about
60 cm. The hind limbs are shorter than the body. They typically have a black fur with white limbs, back, flanks and ears. They live in multimale-multifemale groups. Females have a larger home range than males. They are day active and feed on fruit, seeds, leaves and nectar. Generally they stay close to the tree tops, sunbathing during daytime.
Black Lemur - Eulemur macaco macaco These lemurs are about the size of a house cat and weight between 2 and
3 kg. The males have a completely black fur and the females a light russet red fur, both with tuffs of hair on the ears. They live in small groups in which the females are usually the dominant members. Black Lemurs are active partly at night and during the complete day. Their diet consists of fruit, leaves, seeds, flowers, nectar and mushrooms.
Red-bellied Lemur - Eulemur rubriventer The Red-bellied Lemur's home are the humid forests throughout eastern Madagascar. These medium-sized lemurs weight about
2 kg. The head and body length is
42 cm and the tail is circa
54 cm. Their fur is relatively long and chestnut brown. The tail is black and the ears are hidden in the fur. Males have a dark reddish-brown and females a whitish belly. These day active lemurs live in groups of 5 or fewer individuals. Females are dominant over males and have preferential access to food. Their diet varies with the time of the year, including flowers and leaves of 67 plant species. They also eat some invertebrates.
Crowned Lemur - Eulemur coronatus The Crowned Lemur can be found exclusively in the dry forests in the north and northeast of Madagascar. They weight about
2 kg. They have the size of a smaller house cat, head and body length is approximately
34 cm and the tail is
45 cm. The males have a dark grey-brown fur with a triangular black crown between their ears. The females are grey and have a bright red v-shaped patch on the forehead. The Crowned Lemurs are active from sunrise to sunset, but will often take a noon break of about 4 hours. They live in groups of up to 10 individuals. Females in the group are dominant over males, giving them advantages in food selection and choice of a partner. These vegetarian lemurs eat fruits and leaves. They even come to the ground to pick up fallen fruits. During the dry season they search for waterholes.
Gray Bamboo Lemur - Hapalemur griseus griseus These lemurs are widespread throughout the eastern rain forest. They are 25 to
30 cm tall and have a tail that is slightly longer than the body. They are the smallest of the bamboo eating species with a weight of under
1 kg. The colour of their coat, which ranges from grey-brown to grey-russet varies depending on age. These lemurs are active at all hours of the day and live in small social groups of up to 6 individuals. Females are dominant over males. The main component of their diet is bamboo. They consume the leaves, which contain high levels of silica and cyanide.
A family of Gray Bamboo Lemurs has chosen to live on the grounds of Bushhouse; we have baptised these fluffy friends "The Sugar Baby Family". 
Brown Mouse Lemur - Micorcebus Rufus The territories of Brown Mouse Lemurs includes the tropical rain forest of the east coast. They are the worlds smallest primates and barely measure
30 cm from body to tail and weight 50 grams. The colour of their fur is reddish brown to pale brown with a white to cream stomach. Brown Mouse Lemurs are strictly night active and very difficult to spot. During the day they sleep in tree holes. Their diet varies seasonally and includes mostly fruits, but also insects, young leaves, flowers, gum, nectar and pollen. They can jump from branch to branch as far as 3 metres.
