Animals of Madagascar: the unique fauna of the island. Madagascar lemurs (updated!) A small monkey from the forests of Madagascar

Madagascar is home to some unique and unusual fauna. The island is home to nearly 25,000 species of wildlife, many of which are endangered. Over the past 2,000 years, Madagascar's biologically rich forests have been reduced by almost 90%, mainly due to agriculture and other commercial activities such as logging.

Mass led to the fact that several island animals were on the verge of extinction. Lemurs, which exclusively inhabit Madagascar, are the most endangered and are listed on the Red List of Threatened Species. The bamboo lemur, named after its favorite food, is endangered because its habitat has shrunk to 4% of its original size.

Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean on the southeast coast of Africa and is the 4th largest island in the world. This is a place dominated by endemic species of animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world. The island has been isolated for several million years, allowing animals and plants to evolve and diversify within a small area.

About 170 million years ago, Madagascar was a landlocked territory within the Gondwana continent. As a result of the movement of the earth's crust, Madagascar and India separated from South America and Africa, and then from Antarctica and Australia. Around 88 million years ago, India also separated from Madagascar, allowing the animals on the island to develop in relative isolation.

Lemurs

Lemurs are primates that look like an animal similar to a dog, cat and squirrel. They exhibit incredibly unique and exciting behaviors, including whale-like singing. Today, there are more than thirty species of lemurs in Madagascar, ranging in size from the 25g pygmy mouse lemur to the largest indri lemur weighing over 12kg. Lemurs are one of the most endangered animals on the entire planet, and according to the IUCN Red List, they are endangered, namely: 22 species are in critical condition; 48 species are endangered and 20 are vulnerable.

Fossa

Fossa lives in the forests of Madagascar and is a close relative of the mongoose. It grows up to 1.8 m in length from tail to nose and weighs up to 12 kg. The animal has a slender body and looks more like a representative than a mongoose. Fossa uses its long tail to move quickly through trees. The animal is classified as an endangered species and is listed on the IUCN Red List due to the fact that their habitats are shrinking. Less than 10% of Madagascar's original forest cover remains today, which is also the only home of the fossa.

Madagascar comet

Madagascar Comet ( Argema Mittrei) is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world, found only in Madagascar. The wingspan can reach 20 cm. The insect has a bright yellow color and long "tails" on the lower wings. The females are wider and their wings are round, the tail is shorter than that of the males. Until now, these beautiful animals do not have the status of protection, and their population size has not been established.

panther chameleon

The panther chameleon is endemic to Madagascar and other nearby islands. It has the most varied coloration of any chameleon and is most sought after by reptile dealers. Like other chameleons, the panther chameleon has a raised occiput. During the hunt, he uses his tongue with a trapping sucker at the end. This species is under the least threat of extinction.

Fantasy leaf-tailed gecko

Fantastic leaf-tailed gecko ( Uroplatus Phantasticus) is a stunning reptile that can camouflage itself in its environment. Its body is similar to dead leaves, which helps the animal to hide from predators. The gecko is covered in patterned skin, and the tail looks like it has been gnawed on by insects. All of these features help blend in well with the surrounding foliage. Fantastic leaf-tailed geckos vary widely in coloration, but are generally brownish with some spots on their belly, which distinguishes them from other similar species.

They are nocturnal reptiles with large eyes that are suitable for hunting insects in the dark. They also have sticky scales under their fingers and strong claws that allow them to move quickly through trees. Geckos live in a specific habitat and are not tolerant of any change. Because of their appearance, leaf-tailed geckos are beloved pets and are among the best-selling species. Recently, in the wild, there has been a decrease in the population.

frog tomato

Also known as tomato frogs, these frogs are found only in Madagascar, mainly in the northwestern part of the island. As a rule, they lead a terrestrial lifestyle and are common in forest areas. Due to deforestation, their habitat has been destroyed, but they seem to adapt well to the changed conditions and can be found in gardens and plantations.

There are three types of tomato frogs: Dazzophus antongilli, Dyscophus guineti and Dyscophus insularis. Of the three D.antogilli is endangered due to deforestation and trapping for keeping as a pet. These frogs mate during the rainy season, in shallow water and slow moving water. They are brightly colored and can release a nasty substance when threatened, although it is not toxic, it can irritate mucous membranes.

red fudi

Also called the Madagascar fodi, this bird is native to Madagascar and other nearby islands such as the Comoros, Seychelles and Mauritius, and has recently been found as far away as the Arabian Peninsula. They grow to about 12.5-13.5 cm and weigh about 14-19 g. The males have bright plumage on the chest and head, and the wings, tail and eye area have dark feathers. The plumage varies widely from orange to yellowish, and during breeding season the males molt and become olive brown like the females. The species is under the least threat of extinction.

Madagascar hissing cockroach

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is one of the most fascinating endemic animal species on the island. It has an oval shape and a shiny brown body with no wings, but with a pair of raised horns on the males. During conflicts, these insects hiss, which is how they got their name. Unlike most insects, which make noise through body parts or vibrations, the Madagascar cockroach hisses due to a sharp contraction of the abdomen, and air passes through the spiracles. Insects can live from two to five years and grow up to 5-7 cm in length.

Madagascar bat

The Madagascar bat is a nocturnal primate that lives primarily in trees. Their thumbs and long tails allow them to comfortably stay in trees while they use their echolocation to find food such as insects. They also have sensitive large ears and eyes that help them locate food. Because of their bizarre appearance, they were considered a bad omen among the local people of Madagascar. The species is on the verge of extinction.

Madagascar long-eared owl

This bird has a body length of about 50 cm, making it the largest owl on the island. Females are usually larger than males. The owl is characterized by a brownish crown on the top of its head. She also has a brown facial disc. The Madagascar owl is primarily nocturnal. The species is under the least threat of extinction.

striped tenrec

The striped tenrec is common in the lowland northern and eastern parts of Madagascar. The animal has a long pointed snout, vestigial tail and limbs. The muzzle is black with yellow stripes, and the body is covered with spines. The striped tenrec is active both during the day and at night and feeds mainly on insects. The long muzzle is intended mainly for digging the ground in search of prey. They can also feed on worms, small fish, and even frogs. Tenrecs mostly breed in October and December depending on the availability of food. The gestation period is 58 days and the female can give birth to up to eight cubs. The view causes the least concern.

black mantella

known as Mantella madagascariensis, black mantella is a bright frog with green, black, yellow or orange color. The species is found only in the eastern and central parts of Madagascar. These frogs live in tropical forests bordering freshwater bodies of water. They can tolerate moderate temperatures between 24º C and 27º C during the day and slightly lower at night. The black mantella is a predatory animal that mainly feeds on insects. Frogs are active during the day, usually occupying small territories. The bright body color acts as a danger warning to any predator. The species is in a vulnerable position.

The fourth largest among the islands. The territory of Madagascar is almost 600,000 square kilometers. Approximately the same amount is occupied by the Arkhangelsk region. Out of almost 90 regions of Russia, it is in 8th place.

Madagascar was also once part, but not of the country, but of the ancient continent of Gondwana. However, another 160,000,000 years ago, the island broke away. Isolation and, at the same time, an abundance of food, fresh water, led to the development of the animal world.

Evolution took him in a special way. Bottom line: - more than 75% of the animals of Madagascar are endemic, that is, they are not found outside the republic. Madagascar gained sovereignty in the 1960s. Prior to that, the island belonged to France.

It was discovered by the Portuguese Diego Diaso. This happened in the 16th century. If you haven't been to Madagascar since then, it's time to discover the world of its inhabitants.

white-fronted indri

Represents the Indriaceae family, which includes 17 species. All of them live only in Madagascar. The white-fronted, for example, occupied the forests from the north of the Mangoro River to the Anteinambalana River.

The animal belongs to the wet-nosed primates. Accordingly, it resembles a monkey with a wet nose. More specifically, the endemic is the lemur. This is a transitional stage from lower mammals to primates.

Indri is named white-fronted due to its color. The fur on the body of the lemur is white, but the forehead area is accentuated by a black collar on the neck and a dark muzzle. The length of the animal reaches a meter. This is with the tail. The weight of an indri is 7-8 kilograms.

Pictured lemur indri

crowned lemur

This animal weighs only 2 kilos with a length of up to 90 centimeters. Slenderness allows you to jump long distances, from branch to branch. The tail helps to plan. The lemur owes its name to the dark spot on its head.

The main color is orange. Like all lemurs, crowned ones live in packs. They are led by females. So King Juklian from the famous cartoon is a character that is doubly fictional.

Pictured is a crowned lemur

lemur vari

Vari is one of the largest animals living in Madagascar. I mean lemurs. Among them, the vari giant with a body length of about 120 centimeters. At the same time, the animals weigh only 4 kilos and eat, like their small counterparts, fruits, berries, nectar.

Vari has a contrasting color. The muzzle is framed by white whiskers. On the paws and back, the hair is also light. The rest of the areas are filled in with black. You can see vari in the east of the island, in the mountains. Their height is approximately 1,200 meters above sea level.

On the photo lemur vari

ring-tailed lemur

These animals of madagascar not only as tall as a cat, but also with ears similar to it. The tail of the representatives of the species is powerful, in black and white rings. The body is gray, pinkish or brownish on the back.

In the cartoon "Madagascar", by the way, Julian represents the "cat" family. On the screen, he keeps his tail upright. In nature, this is done to appear taller, to scare off enemies.

The second position of the tail is not described in the cartoon. The organ serves as the 5th leg, supporting the animal while standing on its hind legs, walking along thin branches.

Pictured is a ring-tailed lemur

Gapalemur

The primate is distinguished by large big toes. The color of the animals is brown. The fur is dense and short. Brown eyes on a round head with almost imperceptible ears give the impression that the lemur was in a hurry. Therefore, representatives of the species are often called meek. The total length of the bodies of the hap does not exceed 80 centimeters, and the weight is 3 kilograms.

Gapa differ from other lemurs in their propensity to swim. Representatives of the species settled in bamboo thickets near Lake Alautra, in the northeast Madagascar. Animals in the photo often found in water rather than in trees.

However, hapalemurs still feed on vegetation. The stomachs of animals are able to neutralize the cyanides contained in bamboo shoots. Therefore, like pandas in China, gapas are not poisoned by the plant.

Pictured hapalemur

Sifaka walnut

In general, the arm is a most curious creature, which thousands of tourists are eager to see. The animal, however, is nocturnal. Under the shadow of darkness, it digs with its long fingers from under the bark and stones.

Pictured is a Madagascar bat

Fossa

Fosses hunt lemurs, live alone on the ground. For lemurs, however, you have to climb trees. The hunter can give out a uterine growl, reminiscent of a cat.

Pictured is a fossa animal

Madagascar rat

saying What animals are in Madagascar are endemic, I would like, as long as possible, to mention the giant. The species is dying. The habitat is only 20 square kilometers north of Morondava.

This is one of the cities of the republic. Driving away from him, you see rats the size of and somewhat similar to them. So, the animals have muscular hind legs. They are needed for jumping. The ears are elongated. Animals press them to the head when they jump almost a meter in height and 3 in length.

The color of giant Madagascar rats is closer to beige. In nature, they live in burrows and require the same in captivity. The first offspring outside the habitat was obtained in 1990. Since then, attempts have been made to replenish the population artificially.

Pictured is a Madagascar rat

striped tenrec

Pictured is a tenrec animal

Madagascar comet

This is not about a cosmic body, but the largest in the world. She is classified as a peacock. All members of the family have bright, round patterns on their wings that resemble pupils.

The comet inhabits only the island of Madagascar and its animals not averse to feast on the fleshy body of an insect. However, the butterfly lives only a couple of days. Comets are starving using the resources accumulated in the caterpillar stage. Enough supplies for a maximum of four days.

The butterfly was called a comet because of the elongations on the hind wings. "Drops" at their ends reach 16 centimeters with a wingspan of 20 centimeters. The general color of the insect is yellow-orange.

Pictured is a comet butterfly

Madagascar cuckoos

From the cuckoo family, 2 endemics live on the island nearby. The first is the gigantic view. Its representatives reach 62 centimeters. The second type of endemics is highlighted in blue. True, the size of the birds is slightly inferior to the giant relatives. Blue cuckoos reach 50 kilos, and can weigh about 200 off.

In the photo Madagascar cuckoo

The total number of birds in Madagascar is limited to 250 species. Nearly half of them are endemic. The same goes for insects. Butterfly comet - just one wonderful creation of the island. There are also giraffes.

beetle weevil giraffe

Their noses are so long and curved that they resemble a long neck. The body of insects, at the same time, is compact, like that of. A tomato frog can eat such a charm. She is orange red.

tomato frog

It's hard to eat it on its own. The endemic secretes a sticky substance that glues the predator's mouth and causes allergies. By the way, Madagascar itself is also called red. This is due to the color of local soils. They are stained with clay. So, tomato frogs on the "tomato" island is the place.

In 1500, thanks to pure chance, the island of Madagascar was discovered. The team of the Portuguese navigator Diogo Dias was caught in a storm that forced them to land on the only land nearby. Thus, an island with extraordinary nature and rich fauna was discovered.

Unique island

Madagascar is located off the coast of East Africa, from which it separated over 160 million years ago. Its unique landscape, which includes mountains, lakes, desert areas, jungles, has contributed to the conservation of a huge number of animal species. There are more than 250 thousand of them on the island, and most of them are endemic, that is, they are not found in other areas of the globe. The fauna of Madagascar is unique. It is mainly represented by small animals and reptiles.

Many species of island fauna are now on the verge of extinction. People extract minerals, cut down the jungle, causing animals to suffer.

Recently, the number of reserves and specially protected territories has increased, where all conditions are created for the free existence of a unique fauna. Scientists work by tracking various animal populations and fighting for their prosperity.

Madagascar - the kingdom of lemurs

The largest part of the island fauna are such animals of Madagascar as lemurs. The indigenous people treat them with special respect, because they believe that the souls of the dead move into the body of the semi-monkeys. More than 20 species of these animals live on the island.

Lemurs are kept by families in which the female dominates. These cute creatures are similar in appearance to their ancestors - monkeys, but they have shorter limbs and a pointed muzzle. Nature has perfected their appearance by adding big eyes. This mechanism allows you to perfectly navigate the extraction of food. The animals eat mainly insects and vegetation. They are very friendly, brave and curious.

Lemur species

The kata lemurs are distinguished by the most striking appearance. They are distinguished by a white muzzle with dark "glasses" and a long striped tail. In size, representatives of this species barely exceed the domestic cat. Due to the almost complete absence of predators, animals of Madagascar, such as kata, are most widespread.

The smallest primate, the mouse lemur, lives in Madagascar. The body length of the baby is about 9 cm, with a tail - 27 cm. This species was discovered in 2000.

Another interesting representative is the handle. Another name for the animal is ah-ah. It lives in trees and obtains its food using excessively long and tenacious fingers. The animal taps the trunks for larvae, using echolocation. His appearance is not particularly attractive: shaggy hair that sticks out in all directions, yellow wide-spaced eyes and large semi-circular ears.

Indri is one of the largest lemurs. Its weight reaches 10 kg, and its height is 90 cm. Despite its large dimensions, the beast deftly climbs trees. Each family has a strict range, which it guards by making loud noises.

Swamp tenrec

The most elusive animals of Madagascar, strangely adapted to life in water. The limbs of the tenrec are equipped with membranes and a large amount of muscle tissue. The animal deftly runs in shallow water, catching tadpoles and fish. For hunting, he uses vibrissae - sensitive antennae, which, like a locator, pick up vibrations in the water. The appearance of the tenrec is also interesting: its size is about 15 cm, and a mixture of wool and needles covers the entire body. In appearance, the animal looks like a small hedgehog, but in fact it belongs to the shrews.

rare birds

The island is also rich in birds - there are about 150 species of them, of which a third are endemic. Most Madagascar from the class of birds - red-headed divers. Lack of food and drying up of water bodies due to human activities have put this species of ducks at risk of extinction. It was believed that these birds disappeared forever, but in 2006 a small population of 20 individuals was discovered. For 8 years of successful and painstaking work of zoologists, it was possible to increase it by 4 times. The dive is very beautiful, it has a red-brown body, a gray beak and a white belly.

The real unique is the blue cuckoo. The bird has an incredibly attractive appearance with rich blue plumage. Unlike relatives, she incubates offspring on her own. Due to its remarkable appearance, this endemic species has come under the threat of complete extermination by poachers.

Fossa

Who would have thought that the largest island predator reaches only 1.5 m in length, half of which is occupied by a long tail. Strong muscular beasts have a reddish-brown coat. Outwardly, these animals of Madagascar are similar to a cat and a marten, but belong to the viverrid family. The tail of the fossa, coupled with retractable claws, allows her to deftly climb sheer cliffs and trees in search of prey. The population of these predators is very small and is on the verge of extinction.

Amphibians

The island of Madagascar is replete with a huge number of amphibian species, among which the main ones are frogs, lizards and chameleons.

Rare and endangered species include Due to their incredible appearance, they easily avoid prying eyes. The amphibian reaches a length of 13 cm and has a tail barely distinguishable from a dried leaf. The body of an amphibian is covered with skin resembling tree bark.

Panther chameleons are distinguished by their bright coloration, which is easily changed due to the special structure of body cells. They use their skill for disguise and communication. This species is notable for its ability to simultaneously observe with two eyes different objects of hunting. Before throwing out a sticky tongue, the chameleon focuses on the target.

The tropical rainforests of the island are home to many frogs. The most notable are the tomato narrow-mouths. Females of this species have a rich color of ripe tomato and black stripes on the sides of the body. When danger arises, their skin releases an irritating secret.

The vast territory of Madagascar has not yet been fully explored. Every year new species of animals are discovered. Scientists are achieving good results in increasing the population of endangered endemics of the island.

Do you think that the cartoons "Madagascar" and "Madagascar - 2" show all the oddities of this island? Yes, cartoons do have some features of the life of the island, but not all. Madagascar was chosen as the "platform" for the cartoon due to the fact that there is actually a huge number of strange, but, nevertheless, very amazing animals. Let's take a look at them.

Madagascar striped mongoose.

A small animal, similar to a squirrel. An amazing animal that lives only in Madagascar. That's just the main difference between this animal and the squirrel is that it is carnivorous. The mongoose feeds on earthworms, beetles, and invertebrates.

Leaf snake.

Are you afraid of snakes? If yes, then Madagascar will not be a very pleasant place for you - after all, a huge number of reptiles live here. But there is good news - there are no life-threatening snakes here. And on the island you can meet a leaf-nosed snake. This is one of the most exotic snakes on the planet.

Centipede.

The meeting with snakes has just ended, and here is another not very pleasant meeting. Meet Pill Millipede, a bipedal centipede. Quite a strange, but harmless living creature. This beetle is similar to woodlice, but larger. In case of danger, the centipede will curl up into a ball.

You will not find such a "joke of nature" anywhere else. I wonder what happens if you cross a lemur with a rat? Very strange idea, right? But in Madagascar there is such a “wonder of nature”. This is Ai-ai - the native inhabitant of the island. Animals are not dangerous for humans, because they feed on insects and live high on trees.

Strange creature? Maybe it's some kind of hedgehog? No. Tenrec is very similar to a hedgehog, but it is not at all, although it is a relative of it. Animals have a fairly long nose, the body is covered with fur (less common), stiff bristles, and sometimes thorns. Tenrecs are much smaller than hedgehogs and live mainly in Madagascar.

Everyone knows what lemurs look like, and Madagascar is home to the largest representatives of this species - indri. Like their smaller brothers, they love to climb trees and feed on fruits and vegetables. But unlike their relatives, indris are very noisy, and the sounds that monkeys make are similar to the sounds that humpback whales make underwater.

Mouse lemur.

Madagascar is home to both the largest lemurs and some of the smallest in the world. Mouse lemurs are tiny monkeys that spend most of their lives in trees. Like indri, mouse lemurs eat vegetables and fruits, but still they are not averse to profiting from small insects. In Madagascar, these tiny monkeys are tamed, so they can be found here as pets.

Moth Flatid Leaf Bugs.

Remember that Madagascar is home to a whole host of different "bugs of nature"? Here is another amazing example. This is a Flatid Leaf Bugs moth. They usually gather in flocks, and when they fly, it seems that someone has dropped a pink festive napkin.

Fanaluca.

This is a predator of Madagascar that looks like a mongoose. A carnivorous nocturnal animal that lives exclusively on this island. Fanalooks are not dangerous for people.

Flying foxes.

These are huge bats that live in colonies. They feed only on fruits, so they damage orchards. But tourists love them very much - well, where else can you take a selfie with a huge bat?

Tomato frog.

When was the last time you saw a red toad? You probably don't see this very often. But in Madagascar this is not uncommon. And this inhabitant of the island is special not even by the color of her cold skin, but by her functionality. First, frog skin constantly secretes a sticky substance that serves as a kind of defense against predators: how can you hunt something that sticks to everything? And secondly, this sticky substance is quite toxic - dangerous even for humans.

Madagascar Comet.

Moths are one of the most annoying insects in the world. And Madagascar is home to the largest moth in the world - the Lunar Moth (or Madagascar Comet). The dimensions of this butterfly are impressive - the wingspan reaches 16-20 cm, and the length of the "tail" is up to 8 cm (for females) and up to 13 (for males). Of course, such a moth does not eat woolen sweaters, but it looks very impressive.

Chameleon Lesser Brookesia.

Madagascar is home not only to the smallest lemurs, but also to the smallest chameleons too. These reptiles are only 3-4.5 cm long, so finding them is not easy. They live in trees and grass. And also not infrequently just fall on tourists. Therefore, in Madagascar, you need to be as careful as possible so as not to miss the next “wonder of nature” that has fallen on your head.

Madagascar is a unique island inhabited not only by unique reptiles and animals, but also by birds. More than 15 unique species of birds call Madagascar their only home. A striking example is Blue Coua. A very beautiful blue color gives the bird an unusual look. It is quite rare: it is now listed in the Red Book. Previously, it was hunted because of the beautiful plumage.

Uroplatus Geckos.

These geckos live on tree trunks, but they are very difficult to spot. They are well camouflaged. If you are lucky enough to meet such a lizard in Madagascar, try to feed it with any insect - the show will be unforgettable.

Lemurs

As a big animal lover in every new country, in every new city I try to visit the local zoo without fail.

I can notice that it’s always easy not to overcrowd near enclosures with lemurs, these cute, funny animals are so popular among children (and adults also watch them with great interest).

Lemurs are perhaps the most exotic among primates, they are the largest group among prosimians. Interest in them is due to their external attractiveness: unusual, very bright and colorful fur, cute fox faces and an unusually long and thick tail compared to the body.

The eyes of lemurs are located on the sides of the muzzle, and not facing forward, like in monkeys and humans, therefore lemurs usually look at objects with one eye or the other, and monkeys, like people, look with both eyes at the same time. Due to this, the vision of monkeys and humans is clearer, more distinct, they better determine the distance between objects, which is very important when jumping from branch to branch.

The size of lemurs, together with a long fluffy tail, is about 10 to 50 centimeters, and their weight is from 50 grams to 2 kilograms. That is, the smallest lemurs can easily fit in the palm of a person.

On the head, in addition to well-developed bare ears, two large eyes stand out strongly. The body is covered with thick soft brown hair.

The paws of lemurs are designed for grabbing and climbing trees, pay attention to the photographs - the paws look like a palm with several suction cups. And on the second finger they have a special long claw with which the monkeys comb their hair.

Surely, there is no person (especially mothers with a small child) who did not admire the little funny lemurs in the cartoon “Madagascar”!

In fact, in the wild, lemurs live only in Madagascar (which is even called Lemuria) and the Comoros off the east coast of Africa, and Madagascar is not their homeland.

These islands were formed several million years ago, breaking away from the African mainland. The separated part of the land carried away with it the animals that lived on it, which began to develop in isolation from the rest of the world. This is how the unique island fauna of Madagascar (the fourth largest island in the world) was formed.

Only here and on the nearby Comoros do lemurs live - the ancestors of modern monkeys. Once lemurs lived in Africa, but now they have disappeared from this continent. Unfortunately, deforestation and plowing have deprived these rare animals of their natural habitat.

Lemurs could cross here on logs or on rafts of floating vegetation, clinging with all four paws to the branches washed by the waves.

During periods of lowering of the sea level, narrow strips of land probably appeared, connecting the island with the mainland. It is impossible to say for sure whether the migration of lemurs to the island was single or multiple.

The smallest lemurs are so reminiscent of small African galagos that one can assume that they had common ancestors in the recent past, or, perhaps, both of these groups remained in the niche of the most ancient primates.

Currently, lemurs are endangered animals ... the reason for this is people who have reached Madagascar. In addition, about half of the lemurs born each year die.

Therefore, poachers who take lemurs out of their habitats bring great evil and call into question the further existence of lemurs on the planet.

Lemurs are related to monkeys, monkeys and humans.

There are 28 varieties of lemurs. From their ancestors, who ate insects, semi-monkeys, unlike real monkeys, did not go very far. Therefore, they retained many of the primitive features of their relatives.

The word “lemur” means “ghost”, “ghost”, “spirit of the deceased”. And in fact, when you see how their blurry silhouettes flicker in the night forest of Madagascar, and the twilight resounds with drawn-out, mournful cries, it seems that you have fallen into the other world.

And the appearance of some nocturnal inhabitants of the forest causes superstitious horror. Huge, like plates, eyes, looking either with fear, or with pity, and fingers - long, thin, with a frightening-looking claws.

The muzzles of lemurs are elongated, similar to a fox or a dog, with special sensitive hairs - vibrissae. All lemurs are distinguished by close-set large eyes and a long, fluffy, flexible tail, with which they cling to branches, moving through the trees.

The brain of lemurs is not very large, there are very few convolutions on it.

Depending on the species, lemurs are more active at night, during the day, or at dusk. They move quickly and freely both on the ground, leaning on their front paws, and along the branches of trees, gracefully flying from branch to branch, clinging to them with the help of their tail.

Lemurs feed mainly on plant foods - plant shoots, leaves, fruits, flowers. A special delicacy for them are the eggs of birds and other small animals, which they get by destroying nests. The lower front teeth of lemurs form the so-called tooth comb, which helps them in chewing food.

Lemurs live in packs that can include up to 20 individuals. There are no leaders in packs, they consist of an arbitrary number of males, females and cubs.

A small lemur is born helpless, blind and deaf, and for almost three weeks it clings to its mother's fur on its belly. Having got a little stronger, the cubs move to the mother on the back. In this position, little lemurs move around while the mother collects food and feeds them. But from six months, lemurs begin to take care of themselves, and from a year and a half they can acquire their own offspring.

One of the most famous and beautiful species is the ring-tailed lemur catta. It lives in the dry hilly areas of southern Madagascar. Its characteristic feature is a striped black and white tail, reminiscent of a traffic controller's baton. It has 28 rings!

Katta live in the forest and, although they climb trees well, they spend most of their time on the ground. These lemurs live in groups of 5 to 20 and are diurnal. The leading position in such groups is occupied by female cats. Males sometimes move from one group to another, but females always stay together.

Ring-tailed lemurs feed on various fruits, leaves, flowers, and drink tree sap.

An angry lemur rubs its tail with carpal musky glands and thrashes them on the back, dousing the opponent with waves of its scent. With the smell of this secret, they scare away rivals.

The lemur katta, like most other lemurs, has a toilet claw on the second finger, which is convenient for combing out fleas and putting the coat in order. On the rest of the fingers, the semi-monkeys no longer have claws, like those of other animals, but also not real nails, like those of higher primates, but claw-like nails.

The suborder of lower primates in Madagascar is represented not only by the lemur family, but also by pygmy lemurs and bats.

Dwarf lemurs include fat-tailed and mouse lemurs. The body length of the fat-tailed lemur does not exceed 25 cm and is equal to the length of the tail. The fat-tailed lemur spends the day on the tops of tall trees or in hollows, where it builds spherical nests.

The family of mouse lemurs consists of three genera. A feature of mouse lemurs is the peculiar structure of their feet, which allows them to make large and high jumps. This helps them to get food and hide from enemies, which in natural conditions are hawks. There are very few representatives of this subfamily left, they are all listed in the International Red Book.

Mouse lemurs are small animals, the size of a child's fist, live in trees and are nocturnal. They feed on fruits, leaves, insects, small birds, and possibly honey. In drought, these lemurs can hibernate. The source of energy during hibernation is the fat that lemurs accumulate in the tail. The mouse lemur rarely builds nests, preferring to live in hollows that have not been equipped.

The smallest among lemurs is the mouse microcebus. Its length is only 13 centimeters, but its tail-rudder is much longer than its body and it is not easy to catch up with such a “mouse”! The baby weighs only 60 grams, and the cub of the microcebus is simply weightless - 3-5 grams!

The meek lemur is an animal slightly larger than a cat, lives in small groups, often in bamboo thickets. Despite the law on the protection of these rapidly disappearing primates, locals catch them for sale or even just for food.

The dwarf lemur is the smallest of the primates, no bigger than a mouse! During the day it sleeps curled up in a nest, and at night it feeds mainly on insects, as well as nectar and fruits.

Shaggy indri (avagis) This nocturnal fluffy animal with big eyes sleeps during the day, curled up on a fork in a branch or clasping a tree trunk and clinging to it with its whole body.

Short-tailed indri - one of the large semi-monkeys, lives in humid mountain forests in the north-east of the island. They often “sing” in chorus: drawn out melodious sobs are obtained. The locals revere these animals, calling them “babakoto”, which means “progenitor”.

The wari lemur is the largest lemur. He, the only true lemur, builds nests in which the female gives birth to cubs, having previously plucked the wool on her sides and covered the nest with it.

Lemur sifaka flies in jumps up to 10 meters. He jumps on the trees, pushing off the branches only with his hind legs, his, like a spring, straightens, and his “arms” are thrown forward.

The sifaka lemur has a fold of elongated skin from the palms to the armpits, which helps it to plan. But for the ability to spectacular flights, the sifaka pays with the inability to run on all fours. So you have to move on the ground with jumps, the length of which, however, can reach 4 meters!

Usually these animals live in families of about 12 individuals. They can easily find their food - fruits or leaves - and spend most of their time sleeping on the upper branches of trees.

Indri is one of the largest of the lemurs, it can reach 75 cm in length.

The main enemy of lemurs is fossa - the largest Madagascar predator, a relative of viverras and genet. Unlike the spotted viverras, the fossa has a uniform brownish color.

And in conclusion, I would like to say that recently many pet lovers have become very active in buying lemurs, because they are not only very exotic, unusual and cute animals, but also extremely friendly!

But ... this is a topic for another discussion!