Bemaraha woolly lemur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bemaraha woolly lemur |
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The Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), also known as Cleese's woolly lemur, is a type of woolly lemur. It lives in western Madagascar. This lemur was named after the famous actor John Cleese.
Scientists chose to name it after Cleese because he loves lemurs. He even made a show called Operation Lemur With John Cleese and appeared in the movie Fierce Creatures, both showing his passion for protecting these animals.
The Bemaraha woolly lemur was first seen by scientists in 1990. A team from Zurich University, led by Urs Thalmann, discovered it. However, it wasn't officially described as a new species until November 11, 2005.
This lemur is active during the day. It weighs about 5–6 kilograms (11–13 lb). It has brown fur with white patches on its back legs and inner thighs. It also has a short, damp nose, big eyes, and ears that don't stick out much.
The Bemaraha woolly lemur eats only plants, mostly leaves and buds. It lives in small family groups. Local people call this lemur dadintsifaky. This means "Grandfather of the sifaka". They call it this because it's similar in size to a sifaka lemur. However, it moves more slowly and has thick, grayish-brown fur.
Where It Lives
The Bemaraha woolly lemur lives only in the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve. This special place is in western Madagascar. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it's very important globally.
This lemur is likely in danger of becoming extinct over time. Scientists don't know exactly how many of these lemurs are left. Also, the places where they live, their habitat, are getting smaller.
What It Looks Like
The Bemaraha woolly lemur is found in Western Madagascar. It lives near a village called Ambalarano. Its face is a bit lighter than the top of its head. The fur above its nose goes up to its forehead. This creates a clear contrast with the triangular pattern of its forehead fur.
The fur around its face is black. It forms a dark line or stripe that looks like the letter "V". Its eyes are a deep maroon color, and its eyelids are black. The snout is black and has no hair. The corners of its mouth have a white color.
The fur on its head and body is brownish-gray. It looks a bit curly or freckled. Its tail is beige or brownish-gray. It has a slightly reddish color on the top side of its base. The fur on its lower legs is white. Its chest, belly, and the inside of its upper legs are light gray. The fur in these areas is quite thin.
