Family Of The Week: Dactylonychidae

 This is a group of specialized lemurs. They are closely related to such species as Testudicodas in the family Promonsamiidae. Unlike Testudicodas, these lemurs do not cling to branches via their tails. But they almost completely lack fleshy fingers that other pentadactyls possess. Instead, the fingers all stiffen at the first finger joint, and is fused into a long, curved claw-like appendage. These claws are long, powerful and sharp, and serve as both clinging devices for the trees and branches, as well as weapons of self defense. They did, however, sacrifice the ability to grasp small branches the same way other pentadactyls (and historically primates) can.

These lemurs also share a trait with modern polar bears. They have fur that is hollow, and each strand is tube-shaped. This allows glowing bacteria to colonize these hollows. Specifically, bacteria that glows in the dark. So, these lemurs have the ability to glow, which is used to confuse predators. The glowing action occurs as the lemurs move around at night, making a sort of rippling effect display on their bodies. The males also use the glowing fur to attract females. Though they do move around and even eat at night, these lemurs are primarily diurnal. Except during the mating season. The male lemurs' fur glows as each hair moves, and males call out, very loudly, to females.

These lemurs largely remain in the treetops, except during midday hours, when it can get hot. They seek the shade of the ground then, and that is usually the only time they will ever ascend to the ground. Females usually have only a single baby. Though twins are not too rare. Like other families in this line of lemurs, they do not carry their young on their backs. Young are sheltered in a tree hollow, where they stay perfectly still while the mother is out and about. Males do not participate in raising the young. Roosting differs greatly between males and females. Males will usually roost out on tree branches. Females roost inside tree hollows, especially if they have young.

Predators of these lemurs include mostly pythons, predatory bats, dogs, Tamanoa, and larger lemurs like Bromista. They don't live in particularly large groups, but if a predator is spotted, the first lemur who spots it will sound an alarm that echoes throughout the entire forest. Other individuals in the vicinity will hear and heed the warning, until the danger has passed.

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