lemur

American  

[lee-mer] / ˈli mər /

noun

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

• lemur-like
  adjective
• lemurlike
  adjective

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

The impact of predation -- combined with low reproductive rates and potentially high inbreeding of the lemur population of Betampona -- could affect the survival of this species at this site.

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

In one analysis, the researchers focused on deep hibernators, such as the fat-tailed dwarf lemur and the greater mouse-eared bat, which can maintain low body temperatures for days or weeks at a time.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

Asta, on his shoulder as a lemur, nearly fainted; he caught her and held her close.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• ape
• baboon
• chimpanzee
• gorilla
• orangutan