lemur

American  

[lee-mer] / ˈli mər /

noun

• lemurs
  plural

1. any of various small, arboreal, chiefly nocturnal mammals of the superfamily Lemuroidea, inhabiting Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, inclusive of nearly 100 species, most of which have large eyes, a foxlike face, and woolly fur: lemurs, which vary significantly in size, include the world’s smallest primates.

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lemur British  

/ ˈliːmə /

noun

1. any Madagascan prosimian primate of the family Lemuridae, such as Lemur catta (the ring-tailed lemur ). They are typically arboreal, having foxy faces and long tails

2. any similar or closely related animal, such as a loris or indris

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lemur-like
  adjective
• lemurlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lemurs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lemur

First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin Lemur, the species name, special use of Latin lemurēs (plural) “ghosts, specters, shades of the dead,” from its nocturnal habits

Explanation

A lemur is a small, nocturnal primate that's native to Madagascar. Lemurs are distinctive for their huge, dark eyes and long tails. There are about 100 different lemur species, some nearly as small as mice and others weighing up to 20 pounds, all of which are native to Madagascar. They're unusual in many ways, from their large eyes and the fact that females are dominant. Lemurs are also believed to be the world's oldest primates. The Latin root of lemur literally means "evil spirits of the dead," a possible reference to their nocturnal nature.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lemur lemurs

A wildlife trust is is celebrating the rare birth of red-ruffed lemur quadruplets.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

The fosa is categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and is at risk of extinction, as are almost all of its lemur prey.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2024

Finally, another officer is able to grab the lemur and hold it still as his partner gently gets it “snuggled up” in the towel, the Springfield Police Department said in a Facebook post.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2023

Although humans don’t naturally hibernate, the ability is found in species from nearly every mammalian lineage, from Madagascar’s fat-tailed dwarf lemur to the arctic ground squirrel.

From Science Magazine ● May 24, 2023

He took a back seat in the Jeep beside the lemur.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Islands are home to an estimated 20% to 30% of Earth's species and are well known for unusual wildlife, including Madagascan lemurs and Komodo dragons.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026

There’s a charity called Monkeys Without Borders, led by a woman who has “changed her name to Xotica Lemur, even though lemurs are not monkeys.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Owls and lemurs rotate their necks to look around.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2025

Jodie Marsh should be allowed to keep lemurs at her private animal sanctuary, a judge has ruled.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2025

They included giant elephant birds, primitive primates called lemurs as big as gorillas, and pygmy hippos.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• ape
• baboon
• chimpanzee
• gorilla
• orangutan