Lemurs are primates, a group of animals split into eight families with 15 genera and around 100 species. They are exclusively found on Madagascar’s island. The majority of lemurs on the planet are tiny, with a pointed nose, big eyes, and a long tail. They are mostly arboreal (living in trees) and are active at night (nocturnal).

Lemurs seem like other primates, yet they developed separately from monkeys and apes. Lemur evolution has created a degree of species variety that rivals that of any other primate group, because to Madagascar’s extremely seasonal environment. There were lemurs the size of male gorillas on the island until about 2,000 years ago, when humans arrived. Since the 1990s, the majority of species have been found or elevated to full species status; nevertheless, lemur taxonomic categorization is debatable and relies on which species concept is employed.

The mouse lemur weighs 30 grams (1.1 ounces) while the indri weighs 9 kilograms (20 pounds). Lemurs have divergent digits on their hands and feet, as well as nails instead of claws, which they share with other primitive primates (in most species). Their brain-to-body size ratio, on the other hand, is lower than that of anthropoid monkeys.

They have a “wet nose,” as do all strepsirrhine primates (rhinarium). Lemurs are the most sociable of the strepsirrhine monkeys, relying on smells and vocalizations rather than visual signs to interact. Because lemurs have a low basal metabolic rate, they may go into dormancy, such as hibernation or torpor. Seasonal breeding and female social dominance are also seen. Some are specialists, while others consume a broad array of fruits and plants. Due to their distinct diets, two kinds of lemurs may live in the same habitat.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, lemur study centered on taxonomy and specimen collection. It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s that modern research of lemur ecology and behavior began in earnest. Field research on Madagascar began in the 1980s after being hampered by political concerns in the mid-1970s. Lemurs are valuable study subjects because of their combination of ancestral features and traits shared with anthropoid monkeys, which can reveal information about primate and human evolution. Due to habitat degradation and poaching, several lemur species are still vulnerable.

Many lemur species have already been extinct as a result of human activities in the previous 2000 years, and are generally referred to as “subfossil lemurs.” Despite the fact that indigenous traditions such as fady typically aid in the protection of lemurs and their forests, illicit logging, economic hardship, and political instability conspire to sabotage conservation efforts.

Because of these dangers and falling populations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers lemurs to be the world’s most endangered animals, estimating that up to 90% of all lemur species face extinction in the wild over the next 20 to 25 years as of 2013. However, as an iconic flagship species that typifies Madagascar’s biodiverse fauna, lemurs have aided the development of eco-tourism in Madagascar’s World Heritage Sites, such as the Atsinanana Rainforests in eastern Madagascar.

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