ABSTRACT
There are three zoological families of nocturnal lemuriforms. This chapter surveys each of them, including some of the most interesting genera in each. All the genera in this family are in about the same size range as mice. The descriptions of primate behavior are arranged under four headings: ecology, sociality, life cycle, and cognition. Cheirogaleidae are very small quadrupeds. Mouse lemurs and dwarf lemurs are found in forests all across Madagascar. Some species of cheirogaleids are characterized by torpor and hibernation, forms of dormancy that are absent from all but one other primate. Mouse lemurs completely lack scent glands and depend on excretions for marking behavior, but larger cheirogaleids have a wider array of chemical signals. Sportive lemurs or Lepilemurs are the smallest folivorous primates. This is apparently made possible by low metabolism and low energy expenditure in foraging. The aye-aye, Daubentonia, is one of surviving genus in a family. They are distinguished by numerous physical and behavioral adaptations.
