Mouse lemurs eat a variety of things, including plant parts, from flowers and leaves to nectar, and fruit. The diet of the lemur varies somewhat between the different species. Lemur Diet. The aye-aye—one of a kind: The aye-aye is covered in coarse, black hair with white tips. The larger species are mostly herbivores and eat plant matter. Many lemurs that eat leaves tend to do so during times of fruit scarcity, sometimes suffering weight loss as a result. But still, insects and invertebrates are of secondary importance for many kinds of lemurs. Fork-crowned lemurs inhabit the forests along Madagascar’s western coast and live on a diet of gum and insects. MATING BEHAVIOR. with this lemur being very distinctive by the black and white ring markings on the lemurs tail. Lemurs eat the fruits that are native to Madagascar, including tamarind among many others. This means that their body has adapted to extract the nutrients they need from that source. Because pollen sticks to their long, furry snouts, they carry it from plant to plant, serving as important pollinators. Description. REPRODUCTION SEASON . They also eat vegetables, soft barks, nuts, saps and flowers. “Some plants in Madagascar may have evolved fruit colors so that they can be seen by lemurs that are red-green colorblind.” Super interesting article — and a Duke University researcher is featured too! The nocturnal lemur species do not live in large groups but have the cover of night to help protect them.
Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. They do not cosume any meats within their diets, however they do occasionally eat insects which they find in the wild. Madagascar plankers eat insect larvae and fruits (mangoes, coconuts). While most primates eat diets rich in fruit, lemurs don’t, and it might actually have something to do with the amount of protein in the fruits available to them. Thus, L. catta can be classified as more folivorous than other Lemurids while not as folivorous as the Indriids. Smaller species mainly eat fruits and insects, while larger species eat fruits and other plant matter. While the lemurs sometimes eat insects, they predominantly eat plant material. PREGNANCY DURATION. The Lemur primarily eats fruits and leaves, particularly those of the ‘tamarind tree’ (Tamarindus indica). Also, other family members follow the lead of an influential woman.Lemurs are known for fighting among themselves. The most commonly known species of lemur is the ring-tailed lemur. Lemurs eat way less fruit than most other primates, and scientists have a new hypothesis as to why: the fruit on Madagascar, where the lemurs live, is unusually low in protein. Yes, people eat lemurs, and the reasons they do aren't exactly what we might expect. http://www.zsl.org Really cute footage of ringtailed lemurs eating at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo These fruits are long and have the shape of a bean pod. They are also hunted for bushmeat and captured for the illegal pet trade. Groups of black lemurs studied in the wild have been seen to eat primarily fruit during the rainy season when it is readily abundant. Gallery. The lemur will eat most small things from berries, nuts and leaves to insects and spiders and therefore the lemur has an omnivorous diet. They eat food equivalent to up to 20 to 30 percent of their total body weight. Nectar, resin, pollen and plant juices play an important role in the diet of dwarf lemurs, and they also feed on small insects, their larvae and secretions. Lemur Habitat. A balanced diet is provided to the lemur by providing a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, which is the basis of their diet in the wild. The ringtail lemurs are opportunistic feeders. In the dry season, they may eat leaves and seeds. Read […] Inverts such as crickets and meal worms can be provided for protein, although should be given sparingly as lemurs do not need a large amount of protein daily. Additionally, it has been observed eating decayed wood, earth, insects and small vertebrates. But Some Fruits Say ‘Eat Me’ to Animals. gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) Mouse lemurs, which eat insects and fruit, are the smallest living primates. Lemurs get high - Spy in the Wild: Episode 4 Preview - BBC One. 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