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Ring-tailed Lemurs |
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Basic Facts Ring-tailed lemurs are little bundles of energy. These little guys live on the island of Madagascar and are about the size of a full grown house cat. These creatures can have as much as 49 acres of home range. Most lemurs spend much of their time in the trees, but not this lemur. It spends most of its time on the ground. With 36 chopping teeth, these animals can eat fruit, leaves, small reptiles and birds and birds eggs. Have you ever combed your hair with your teeth? Well that's what lemurs do and then they go sun themselves for 9-10 hours a day. Lemurs are social animals that live in packs called catta's with 20-25 other lemurs. Birds of prey have sharp eyes so if a hungry eagle or falcon just happens to be flying over the island, lemurs have a very slim chance. Did You Know? Lemurs are fascinating animals. Lemurs can jump several feet in a matter of seconds. Weighing in at 2 ounces with a body 5 in. long, the mouse lemur is one of the world's smallest primates! I bet you think that cats are the only animals that can purr. Well, you are wrong because some lemurs, such as the cat lemur, can purr and that's how they got the name cat lemur. Disappearing Forever Lemurs are endangered for two reasons. Habitat is important to an animals survival and the lemurs habitat is being destroyed by man. Also, natives to the island eat lemurs because they are a delicacy. Sometimes the natives will ship lemur meat to the United States where it is very rare to be able to eat lemur meat. Steps are being taken to help the lemurs. Some animal researchers and Save the Lemur volunteers catch and breed them in captivity so they can later release them in the wild. Also, the people who live on the island are realizing what they are doing because the volunteers who come to the island are explaining the situation to them. |