Remember this hilariously popular song sung by beloved King Julien, from the movie, 'Madagascar'? Yeah most of you sure do! And I am sure you have already figured it out why am I humming this song. What could be a more apt beginning to begin this article on lemur's behavior, than this famous number! Lemurs, native to the island of Madagascar are a group of biological taxa or species that share features inherited from a common ancestor (known as a clade) of strepsirrhine primates.
These mammals were named after the Latin word 'lemures', which stands for the meaning of ghosts or spirits. This is due to the fact that the vocalizations which these animals produce are similar to what would be portrayed for a ghostly atmosphere. Also, due to their reflecting eyes and nocturnal habits, lemurs are named so. Details on lemurs behavior; about its different aspects have been detailed in the following.
Behavior of Lemurs
Feeding Habits of Lemurs
Let's begin this piece with some basic insights on lemurs diet. Studies show that smaller lemur species have a diet which consists mostly of fruits and insects. While, the larger mammals are more into consuming plant material. However, when they are hungry and have less of options, the need of the hour is to be content on any anything that is edible. This is the reason why, these primates are also known to be among the opportunistic animal species. Different research reveal that about 55% of all plant species in Madagascar become the foods of these animals.
Social Systems of Lemurs
Lemurs are among those animals which are known to be socially improvised. Depending on the kind of species, a group may consist of 2 - 20 individuals. One of the most important facts about lemurs behavior is related to group bonding. This they do by grooming each other within each group. Species which have a nocturnal lifestyle, are lone hunters, but only at night. During the day, they rejoin the group. Species, gender, location, and season are the factors which govern the extent or degree of socialization in these animals. This is especially noticeable in nocturnal lemur species.
If the home range of a male tends to extend over and cover a part of one or more nesting groups of females, then this male will share his space with other females and their young. While, in other species such as the sportive lemurs and fork-marked lemurs, one female or maybe two are allowed to share a home range with a male. Lemur groups often have a female supervisor, who stays in control of leading males and other females in searching for food and shelter. Unlike other primates, here the females get the lion's share and have first food choices. Males simply wait for their turn.
Locomotion In Lemurs
The locomotion behavior of lemurs depend upon the species. The below table is a quick study of what type of locomotion behavior is and was exhibited by different lemur species.
| Lemur Species | Locomotion Behavioral Characteristic |
| Indris | Vertical clinging and leaping |
| Bamboo lemurs | Vertical clinging and leaping |
| Mesopropithecus | Slow arboreal quadrupedal |
| True lemurs | Fast arboreal quadrupedal |
| Ruffed lemurs | Fast arboreal quadrupedal |
| Ring-tailed Lemur | Partially terrestrial quadrupedal |
| Monkey lemurs | Highly terrestrial quadrupedal |
| Sloth lemurs | Sloth-like suspensory locomotion |
Read more on:
- Lemurs as Pets
- Lemurs Facts
One important aspect of lemurs behavior, which cannot be ignored is their communication. Sound, sight, and smell are the three modes which these animals put in use to establish communication with each other. These animals make least or no use of visual signals, as they lack the required facial appearance. However, the ring-tailed lemur is an exception to this fact. It has been observed to yawn as a threat stare, pulling back lips when submissive and pulling back ears for scent marking. Grooming or touching is also a sort of communication in these animals.
Reproduction, another vital aspect of lemurs behavior, is subjected to seasonal breeding, except for some selected species. The breeding season do not last for more than 3 weeks each year. Females get pregnant 4 months after mating, and monsoon or rainy season is when most births take place. A female can give birth to one or two infants. However, there may be even up to 6, in case of the ruffed lemur.
Coming to the concluding part of this article on lemurs behavior, the activity patterns of these primates vary with their kind of species. Most smaller species are known to show nocturnal traits, while diurnal behavior is shown in the larger ones. Then again, there are some larger lemurs which are active during the day and at night, as well.
Most lemurs habitat comprises mainly of trees and bushes. The ring-tailed lemur prefer to stay on the ground. As mentioned, Madagascar happens to be the home to these animals, where they may be found living in moist, tropical rainforests, and some, in dry desert areas.
