lemur is derived from the Latin word meaning 'spirits of the night'
lemurs are nocturnal with large reflective eyes & wailing cries
all lemurs (pygmy slow loris, crowned lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, black
& white ruffled lemur, gray gentle lemur, ring-tailed lemur, aye-aye, slender
loris, slow loris, blue-eyed lemur, lesser bushbaby, collared lemur,
golden-crowned sifaka) have a 'tapetum,' a reflective layer over the retina
that causes their eyes to shine back light
lemurs evolved before anthropoids living during the Eocene epoch
55 million years ago
(the first monkey dates to 45 million years ago, the ape 35)
Madagascar broke from Africa 160 million years ago
did lemurs travel to Madagascar on clumps of vegetation?
lemurs are the closest living analogs to man's ancient primate ancestors
lemurs differ cognitively in the development of the associative areas of the brain
lemurs have scent glands on their feet that leave odors on the surfaces
they cross
lemurs have a heightened sense of smell
lemurs are arboreal, spending much of their time in trees & bushes
lemurs have large bushy tails that wave in the air to communicate
their tails help them balance when they leap from tree to tree
lemurs have a good grip for hanging onto trees & branches
lemurs are well-groomed & use their teeth as a comb
some lemurs are hermetic, live alone, awake & active at night
others live in large stable groups & in fluid associations
lemurs show female dominance
lemur babies are carried in their mothers' mouths
lemurs are usually vegetarian, primarily eating leaves & fruit
as they move from flower to flower lemurs transfer pollen on their foreheads
all lemurs are found in Madagascar & the neighboring Comoros Islands
the forests of Madagascar are being destroyed at an alarming rate
50 different species of lemur are critically endangered
80% of their habitat has been destroyed
lemurs are hurt by new weapons & deforestation
lemurs are the most gravely endangered group of primates in the world

--from Anne Waldman's Manatee/Humanity  ¶ 2:31 PM