Family Of The Week: The True Metazoic Lemurs

 The family Chirosapidae is a highly varied family of lemurs. These are the original lemurs that evolved in the Metazoic. They branched off the modern family Galagidae, of which several species in the Metazoic family retain many characteristics. Their homeland is Africa, and more than 50% of the animals in this family still live there in the Metazoic. Most species are tree dwellers, as would be expected of any lemurs. But several species can inhabit ground levels, and even the ocean. They range in size from the tiny dwarf bushbabies (Galaguella) to the 20-foot long Chirosapus robustus. But most species are small and light animals. These animals differ from other lemur families, like the closely-related Pileatidae, by a lack of a sagittal crest, and the forelegs are considerably shorter than the rear legs.

Most species in this family are diurnal, with the exception of the Sciurocheirinae, the bushbabies. The majority of the bushbabies are nocturnal. This is one trait they carried on from the Galagidae. Just like the modern galagos, Metazoic bushbabies can see very clearly during even some of the darkest nights. When moving along the ground, they bound and leap on their hind legs, just like modern galagos. The ears are very large, and able to move independently to zero in on any slight sounds. Bushbabies feed on fruits, nectar, sap, and small animals and insects. They are quite capable of capturing insects on the wing. While most species in the Sciurocheirinae are exclusively nocturnal, there is one genus, Alectrona, that is crepuscular. They are active during twilight hours and just before dawn. This is what gives them the collective name of "dawn bushbabies".

Oceanides is the only oceanic genus. These are large lemurs with shortened legs and large, webbed feet. The tail is less than the length of the body, and eel-shaped. They swim much like sea lions. They are rather deep divers, going as far as 1400 feet down to hunt for fish, squid, crabs, sea urchins and even lobsters. Sometimes, they bring their prey to land to be consumed, unless there are other individuals ashore, at which time, they will feed while chest-deep in water. Unlike any other lemurs, Oceanides is able to drink and process sea water. While most Chirosapids inhabit the Old World, one species of Oceanides, O. bermudensis, is the westernmost member of this family. Found only on the island of Bermuda, they are also the only mammals to inhabit the island successfully. A closely related genus, Tethes, is not found in the ocean, but prefers fast-flowing rivers and streams.

The most unique of all lemurs are those in the subfamily Notosiminae. These little lemurs have feet that are much longer than the legs or arms. Much like we see in kangaroos. The general structure of the feet is like that of other pentadactyls, but the tarsii are longer, and designed to leap several meters in one bound. They hop on their toes, rather than flat on their feet. The long tail is used as a sort of a rudder. Normally, in everyday life, these lemurs walk like miniature ostriches, the hopping motion is used only when they need to make a quick getaway. They can go from a stationary position to bounding at 45 mph in milliseconds. Each bound may cover as much as 12-15 feet. Quite an accomplishment for a subfamily of animals no bigger than a rat. Another interesting fact; One species in this subfamily, Entolestes, is practically immune to the venom of the funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus), which for some reason, is usually particularly toxic to primates and pentadactyls. Entolestes overpowers them like an average Tuesday, and is able to ignore the venom if bitten.

The young are born fully developed, with the eyes closed. There are different ways in which these lemurs raise their young. Some of which are unique among pentadactyls. Larger species, like Chirosapus, raise their young in a tree hollow, hollow log, or burrow. Young are not carried on the back like in other pentadactyls. The mother will usually carry them by the back of the neck, like a cat, if they need to be moved. In other cases, the baby may be born to perch on a branch where it is concealed by thickets of leaves. Young are usually only moved when danger threatens, or a youngster gets away. Usually only one young is born, but sometimes they may have twins. Species like Oceanides raise their young on boulders jutting up from the ocean. Sometimes, some individuals would raise their young on the beach it's self, though this is rare. Small species use tunnels or hollows in trees to raise their young.

These lemurs are omnivorous. They feed on mixtures of leaves, fruit, berries, insects, small vertebrates, tree sap, shoots, plants, flowers, nectar, eggs, and for larger species, even large reptiles and birds. Chirosapus specializes in reptiles, even venomous reptiles. At the same time, these lemurs are preyed upon by several species. Deinognathids like Tamanoa and Elaphictis commonly take these lemurs. Large viverrids also feed on these lemurs. In fact, for Oceanides, the greater sea genet (Haliophonia) is it's worst enemy in the ocean. Haliophonia will pursue the lemurs until they are exhausted, grab the animal in it's mouth, take it to the surface, and slam the lemur against the surface of the water, much like we see in modern Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) when they are hunting penguins. Crocodiles feed on Tethes. Pythons and monitor lizards also take a toll.