Family Lemuridea

• dental formula (2133/2133)
• cranial blood supply through stapedial artery
• generally diurnal
• do not build nests

  a.  Lemur catta (ring-tailed lemur) *pictured above

• diurnal
• spend 30% of each day on ground (terrestrial)
• quadrupeds

• capable of interbreeding
• sexually dichromatic
• some have cathemeral[1] activity (mostly diurnal)
• totally arboreal quadrupeds

*The picture is of Lemur mongoz  taken from the Duke Primate Center web site

  c. Lemur mongoz (mongoose lemur) *pictured above

• arboreal
• cathemeral activity cycles (diurnal in cold, wet conditions and nocturnal in dry.)
• live in monogamous family groups

        d. Varecia variegata (ruffed lemur)

• largest lemurid and most primitive
• long doglike snout, long tail, and short limbs
• arboreal quadrupeds
• frugivorous 
• females fertile only one day a year

• short faces and small, hairy ears
• short arms and long legs
• live entirely on bamboo
• clinging and leaping vertically and quadrupedalism
• diurnal and sometimes crepuscular[2]

*The picture is of Hapalemur griseus taken from the Duke Primate Center web site

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[1] Cathemeral – active intermittently throughout the twenty-four hour day rather than active only during the day or night.

[2] Crepuscular – active primarily during the hours around dawn and dusk