Cat lemur - description, habitat, lifestyle

The cat lemur is a primate of the lemur family who lives only in Madagascar. He is also known by the names "Maki" and "Katta". These animals inhabit the entire territory of the island, right up to the Andringitra mountains. Scientists combine them into the sub-order of the moose-bearing, which currently has more than 100 species of lemurs. And over the past 20 years, 70 new species were attributed there because the criteria for their classification have changed.

Appearance

The cat lemur for a reason has a name associated with pets, because in size it is comparable to a cat. The length of the body is 35-45 cm, and the length of the tail is 55-62 cm. Another sign related to this type of lemur with cats is the position of the tail: it is slightly twisted and very mobile. This ornament weighs 1.5 kg, which is more than a third of the total weight of the animal.

Such a long and heavy tail has several functions at once:

1. First, it allows the lemurs to transmit signals to their relatives, twitching them.
2. Secondly, the cat lemurs with the tail leave their own smell in the inhabited area.
3. And thirdly, the tail provides balance during jumps and climbing on tree branches. Despite all these advantages, lemurs cannot cling to them.

The color of the animals varies throughout the body. The hair on the back of a lemur is silvery or with a slight pinkish-brown tint. The head and neck are dark gray in color. The paws of the cat lemur are grayish in color, but their inner surface is white. The muzzle is also white, around the eyes there are black spots in the shape of a triangle. A remarkable feature - 13 black and white stripes.

The animals have 5 developed fingers, with which they deftly cling to the branches of trees and can hang in this position for some time. Lemurs perfectly use their crowns to sleep and shelter from predators. The female can stay on the branches, even with the cub, clinging to her back.

Cat lemurs often become heroes of cartoons, not only because of their appearance, but also an incredibly graceful gait.When moving, the lemur bends its back and lifts the tip of the tail upwards, having a rather haughty and funny look.

Life among congeners

Cat lemurs are jealous of their territories and place in the hierarchy, which is why fights often occur between them. During the "battles" animals grease the tail with a secret from under the arms, which has a sharp unpleasant smell. Waving such a stinking "weapon" in the face of an opponent, they prove their status.

Groups of cat lemurs do not make friends with each other and often arrange skirmishes over food or their habitats. And often it ends with several deaths.

Behavior

Cat lemurs spend their lives idly, and every day for them begins with sunbathing. The animals are selected on the open area and fall apart on the back, exposing the abdomen to direct sunlight. It feels like animals are immersed in meditation. After the end of this procedure, lemurs eat breakfast, and then they clean and comb the wool for a long time.

Unlike their usual counterparts, the cat lemurs prefer to spend time on the ground, and not among the crowns of trees. This is partly due to the aridity of the environment. In the evening, the heat subsides, and lemurs have a peak of activity at this time.

Their location during the day depends on the search for food. As a rule, lemurs overcome no more than 1 km to get provisions. The skin on the palms of the animals is very sensitive, which allows them to "see with their hands." The males, in addition to this ability, have sharp claws with which they scratch the bark of the trees and comb out the wool. Lemurs not only clean their skin, but can also offer this procedure to their relatives in exchange for a reward, such as food or mating.

Nutrition

Fruits, plants, and sometimes cacti and small insects form the basis of the diet of the cat lemur.Fruit trees are the only source of food for animals in the rainy season. In order to store liquid during a drought, lemurs absorb aloe leaves. Sometimes they take the trouble to hunt small birds and spiders.

In conditions of famine or drought, when it is difficult to get food, the cat lemurs do not disdain to gnaw rotten stumps and tree trunks. If this situation persists for a long time, then the lemur hibernates for several days. At this time, its metabolism almost stops, which is why a cat lemur is not required to replenish the stomach.

Breeding

In spring, the mating lemurs begin the mating season, after which the pregnancy lasts for 222 days. As a result, the female gives birth to one cub. The weight of a newborn is 110-120 g. In the first months of life, it cannot be separated from the mother and clings to its fur with its paws. First, the cub hangs on his stomach, and later he moves to the back.

Leaving the cub begins 1-2 months after birth. In spite of the fact that mother and child spend most of the day separately, they sleep and eat together.The female feeds a small lemur with milk up to 6 weeks of age, then the animal switches to solid food. The final withdrawal from mother's milk occurs at 5 months, at the same time, matured cat lemurs learn to live independently.

Lifespan

Due to the dry climate and the presence of natural enemies, half of the young ones die before they start living separately from their mother. Those who have overcome the test of growing up, live 20-25 years, in captivity this period can reach 30-35 years.

Home Content

Cat lemurs are one of those exotic animals that are perfectly amenable to domestic breeding. But taking into account that the following requirements will be met:

1. The space of the cage should be sufficiently extensive so that the animal can move freely and pull the tail upwards.
2. Feline lemurs, like humans, are prone to catarrhal diseases. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the cell is away from drafts and air conditioners.
3. Feeding should be at night due to the twilight lifestyle of the cat lemurs. Cabbage, fruit, cucumbers, lettuce leaves, cottage cheese, cereal porridge without adding butter, bread, and raw chicken eggs are suitable for home animal nutrition.Sometimes the diet can be diluted with boiled chicken meat, mice, cockroaches and grasshoppers.
4. Lemur can not be taught to the tray, so you need a constant cleaning of the dwelling.
5. In the drinking bowl every day should be clean cool water.
6. Cat lemurs do not breed in captivity, and any acquired animal has already spent a certain part of life in the wild. This leaves an imprint on the nature of the animals and makes them resistant to training.
7. In the cage must be installed imitation of branches, as well as scattered several toys.
8. Cat lemurs easily get along with people and do not show aggression towards them.
9. From the first days of life, cat lemurs get used to the presence of their relatives, so you should keep them two by one and not buy only one animal.
10. If possible, you should install an ultra-violet lamp with an average power above the cage. Ultraviolet rays stimulate the appetite of cat lemurs and increase activity.
11. The cat lemur should not be let out of the cage when the owner wants it. Animals that have just entered a new environment may experience stress and shock, which leads to unpredictability in their behavior.To put such an animal back into the cage will be problematic. Therefore, in the first week you should carefully observe how the lemur reacts to people and pets, and only then give him the opportunity to move freely around the house.

Unusual Cat Lemur Facts

1. The cat lemur is capable of making 12 types of sounds, and a special sound transmission system allows them to communicate at a distance of up to 2 km. They may purr, grunt, squeal, bark and make clicking sounds.
2. The population of cat lemurs, according to various estimates, does not exceed 50,000 individuals. Despite this, the inhabitants of the island of Madagascar have permission to free shooting of these animals.
3. Cat lemurs experience discomfort if the liquid gets on their fur, especially on the face. Therefore, while eating juicy fruits, they throw back their heads up so as not to get smeared.
4. About 50 million years ago there was a common ancestor of lemur and man.
5. Feline lemurs sleep in small groups on tree branches, clinging to each other to keep warm. It looks like one big live ball.
6. The name "lemur" has Latin roots.This word means "spirit", "ghost." So called people whose souls did not get into the afterlife for some reason and remained to wander the earth.
7. Previously, lemurs lived in Africa, but over time were driven out by monkeys and humans.
8. Lemurs are primates, whose appearance is most different from human.

Video: cat lemur (Lemur catta)