How long do lemurs live?
How long do lemurs live in the wild?
If we compare lemurs to other primates that are larger in size like chimpanzees, for example, lemurs live very short lives. Wild lemurs, for instance, live between 15 and 20 years and it all depends on the species.
Due to the fact that there are over 100 different species of lemurs, there is no universal answer to the question “how long do lemurs live?”. On top of that, their life cycles are affected by the rapid loss of natural habitat, bad reproductive rates, and the human factor.
How long do lemurs live in captivity?
When lemurs are kept in captivity, where they have all the necessary things for high-quality lives, they can leave even more 30 years. The average life expectancy of captivated lemurs is 25 years.
Where do lemurs live?
Lemurs live naturally on the Comoro Islands and Madagascar. Although they are concentrated in a relatively small space, they can live in different habitats. People can find them in very dry desert areas or in tropical forests too.
What do lemurs eat?
Most of their diet consists of fruits and leaves.
How much do lemurs measure?
Adult lemurs growing to a maximum of around 25 in/70 cm tall (their long tail is often as long as their body).
How much do lemurs weigh?
Every type of lemur appears differently. After closer inspection, people can notice that they have different colors and different sizes. This is natural because there are different kinds of lemurs.
For example, the Diademed Sifaka and Indri lemurs weight around 15 lb/6,5 kg. They are considered to be the largest lemurs. On the other hand, the pygmy mouse lemurs weigh around 1 oz/30 grams.
Lemurs reproduction and life cycle
One of the main reasons why lemurs don’t live longer is their slow reproduction rate. They can make one offspring per year and, in many cases, they can’t give birth even to one offspring. However, when they are in captivity and fed in a proper way, they can give birth to twins too.
Lemurs, under threat of extinction
The places where lemurs live are constantly destroyed and they have fewer places where they can grow their offspring in peace. In addition, hunting is a huge problem too.
As a result of these problems, the population density is dropping rapidly. 9 out of 10 lemur species are listed as threatened and 23 of these species are critically endangered. Scientific research, captive breeding and special programs are just some of the activities conducted in national parks that can help lemurs improve life expectancy. These unique animals clearly deserve a better and longer life.
They are very social creatures that have long limbs, very flexible fingers and toes and long, unique noses.
Many of them are nocturnal animals, but there are lemurs that are active at dawn and even during the day too.
Another thing that makes lemurs interesting is their sunbathing ritual. They often take positions under the sun like they are in a middle of meditation. Lemurs need to soak up some warmth before they continue with their daily activities.