Coloring Book Lemur

Lemur is an animal about the size of an adult cat and resembling it also from the sounds it makes. Its body length is about 30-40 centimeters, and its tail reaches about 80 centimeters in length! Its weight is quite low, it weighs from 2 to 2,5 kilograms. Its fur is grayish in color but its underside is slightly lighter.

Information

Lemurs can only be found in the south-western part of Madagascar. They lead an arboreal lifestyle, in contrast to their cousin Lemur Katta which lives in forestless places, often on rocky uplands. The ground-dwelling Katta hides in caves and rocky outcrops. It is adept at moving about on the ground, jumping well, and can walk on its hind legs. It often lives in groups of 5 to 20 individuals.

Lemurs are very eager to eat fruits such as bananas, figs but they also eat insects. They often eat leaves, shoots, roots of different plants, but also lizards and birds' eggs.

Pregnancy lasts about 4,5 month and female after this time gives birth usually to 1 or 2 cubs, but less often to 3. Cubs immediately after birth attach to the mother's fur on her belly and after about 2 weeks move to the back where they usually stay until the first month is over. After this time the young, apart from its mother's milk, starts to take food on its own like the adults. After 6 months the young leaves the mother and becomes independent. Lemurs live up to 25 years.

Trivia

1. Endemicity: Lemurs are endemic to Madagascar, meaning that they naturally occur only on this island nation.
2. Diversity of Species: There are about 100 different species and subspecies of lemur, and each looks different and has unique behaviors.
3. Communications: Lemurs communicate through sounds, gestures and smells. They make different sounds that have different meanings, such as warning of predators.
4. Eyes: Lemurs have large, round eyes that help them see at night.
5. Tail: The lemur's tail is longer than its body and is used to maintain balance while moving through the trees.
6. Flocks: Lemurs live in herds of several to a dozen individuals. The herd is usually dominated by the female.
7. Diet: Most lemurs feed on fruits, leaves, flowers, nectar and insects.
8. Threats: Lemurs are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, hunting and population fragmentation.
9. Reproduction: A female lemur usually gives birth to one cub per year. Young lemurs are usually carried on their mother's belly for the first few weeks of life, and then move to her back.
10. Way of Life: Most lemur species have an arboreal lifestyle, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. A few species, such as the katta lemur, spend time on the ground as well as in trees.