A nocturnal group of omnivorous lemurs make up the family Cheirogaleidae. They are the smallest Madagascan primates and one, the western rufous mouse lemur, at l8cm and 28g, may be the world’s smallest primate. The largest species weighs around 500g. They spend nearly all their time in the trees, coming down to the ground to cross gaps. Mouse lemurs also descend to snatch the odd beetle, then high tail it back to treetop safety. Tiny lesser mouse lemurs nest in tree hollows and home-made houses of leaves.

One of many lemur facts is that in dry months some of these mini mouse lemurs turn out to be torpid. Their diet consists of small fruits, gum, insects and small vertebrates. Coquerel’s mouse lemur is also partial to licking up the secretions of flattid bugs. Unlike the nimble mouse lemurs, dwarf lemurs are slow movers, climbing carefully branch to branch. Some dwarf lemurs store fat in their tail and lie dormant for a number of months during the dry season. They’re solitary night feeders, eating fruit and a sprinkling of insects and gum. Unlike most primates, females bear two or three babies.

Indri and sifakas

The Indriidae loved ones contains four large species – the indri, Verreaux’s and diadem sifakas and the avahi or woolly lemur. Sifakas are monkeysized leapers with short, broad snouts and large, tree-clasping hands and feet. The indri has a short tail, while sifakas are blessed with a long, bushy brush. They live in little groups leaping from 1 vertical trunk or branch to another in daylight.

Supremely lithesome within the branches, they sometimes visit the ground to cross treeless gaps. The indri can leap up to 10m. The mother carries her single baby on her back until weaned at six months. The avahi or woolly lemur may be the smallest and the only nocturnal member of this family. Greyish brown and weighing about 1kg, it clings to a tree in dense forest throughout the day. Avahis whistle and twitter at night to announce their presence to neighbours.