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Ring-tailed lemurs love sunbathing, sitting upright with their arms outstretched. This oft-photographed pose is easily mistakable for yoga or meditation. Lemurs often do their ‘sun worship’ in groups on chilly mornings.
Lemurs: The Most Comical Characters in the Animal Kingdom
Lemurs: The Most Comical Characters in the Animal Kingdom
Lemurs and their hilarious traits
Lemurs are a group of arboreal primates native to Madagascar. There are at least 100 confirmed species of these large-eyed, sharp-snouted and long-tailed animals. Lemurs are some of the most expressive, if downright funny, characters in the animal kingdom.
Dancing lemurs
Sifaka lemurs move on the ground with a peculiar, sideways hop on their hind legs. They use their forelimbs for balance, giving the appearance of a funky dance, which has earned them the nickname ‘dancing lemurs’.
Facial expressions
Lemurs, particularly ring-tailed and Aye-Aye lemurs, have huge, bulging eyes that give them a perpetually-surprised or shocked look. Their wide-eyed expressions make them look like they’ve just woken up from a nightmare.
Sun worship
Ring-tailed lemurs love sunbathing, sitting upright with their arms outstretched. This oft-photographed pose is easily mistakable for yoga or meditation. Lemurs often do their ‘sun worship’ in groups on chilly mornings.
Vocalisations
Another comical lemur trait is the wide range of sounds they can make, especially their high-pitched screams, which sound like car alarms. Some lemurs, like the Indri, have a loud, resonatingly-eerie call that travels through the forest.
The tail lift
While walking, ring-tailed lemurs hold their tails up high, not unlike a flag or antenna. Their striped tails curl at the end, and when they move in groups, it looks like a parade where each member is carrying their banner.