Lemur, << LEE muhr, >> is any of numerous long-tailed, furry mammals related to monkeys. Some kinds of lemurs resemble monkeys. Others look more like mice or squirrels. Scientists classify lemurs, along with human beings, apes, and monkeys, as primates. Lemurs live only in the island countries of Madagascar and Comoros, which lie off the southeast coast of Africa.
Most lemurs inhabit trees most of the time. They eat fruit and leaves. They also eat birds and their eggs, and insects and other small animals. Some kinds of lemurs move about chiefly during the day. Others are active at night.
Lemurs vary greatly in size, color, and appearance. The pygmy mouse lemur is the world’s smallest primate. It weighs about 1 ounce (28 grams) and grows about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. These brownish or grayish animals look like furry mice. Ring-tailed lemurs and ruffed lemurs resemble monkeys, except that they have a long pointed snout. The ring-tailed lemur grows 15 inches (38 centimeters) long. It has a gray back, white underparts, and rings of black and white fur on its tail. The ruffed lemur grows 24 inches (61 centimeters) long and has fluffy fur. Most ruffed lemurs possess a black-and-white coat with a fluffy white ruff (collar). Some have reddish-brown fur instead of white.
Two monkeylike lemurs, the indri and the sifaka, have long, powerful hind legs. In the trees, these lemurs spring from trunk to trunk. Most animals that live in trees jump from branch to branch. The indri is the largest kind of lemur. It grows about 28 inches (71 centimeters) long. It has a black back and white fur on its undersides. The sifaka grows about 20 inches (51 centimeters) long.
Lemurs have few enemies. There are few large predators (animals that eat other animals) in the region where they live. But many kinds of lemurs have become endangered. People have cut down many trees in the forests in which these animals lived.
