Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store

Active | Unanswered

Dolls N Dreams
Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 6,454

TamiL Jul 1, 2009

bear_wub

Bubble Up Bears!
Murrieta, California
Posts: 1,804

Bubble-Up Bears Jul 1, 2009

OK. bear_wacko
Is it real?
and what is it if so? bear_original

Dolls N Dreams
Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 6,454

TamiL Jul 1, 2009

Where is Jane!!!!!!!!!!!!! bear_grin

Bubble Up Bears!
Murrieta, California
Posts: 1,804

Bubble-Up Bears Jul 1, 2009

Jane where are you??????? bear_grin

Melisa's Bears
Hazelton, BC
Posts: 5,811
Website

Melisa Nichols Jul 1, 2009

It sure looks like a little lemur... too cute!! bear_wub

Bubble Up Bears!
Murrieta, California
Posts: 1,804

Bubble-Up Bears Jul 1, 2009

Thank you Melisa!! bear_original

Doodlebears
UK
Posts: 7,414

doodlebears Celebration AmbassadorJul 1, 2009

Yes, Melisa is correct; this is a picture of a very young Ring Tailed Lemur. Lemurs are primates found only on the African island of Madagascar and some tiny neighboring islands. It is thought that lemurs may have floated there eons ago on "rafts" of vegetation and evolved in isolation over countless centuries.

They are about 45 cm long, covered in gray fur, with a black and white stripy tail. Like all lemurs the hands and feet are soft and have nails, just as we do. They use their hands and feet to move nimbly through the trees, but cannot grip with their tails as some of their primate cousins do. Ring-tailed lemurs also spend a lot of time on the ground, which is unusual among lemur species. Fruit makes up the greater part of their diet, but they also eat leaves, flowers, tree bark, and sap.

Ring-tailed lemurs have powerful scent glands they mark their territory by scent, serving notice of their presence to all who can smell. During mating season, male lemurs battle for dominance by trying to out-stink each other. (Glad we don’t do this) They cover their long tails with smelly secretions and wave them in the air to determine which animal is more powerful. They also chatter among themselves with series of barks and alarm screams when frightened.

Ring-tailed lemurs live in groups known as troops averaging about 17 animals. There are both male and female dominance hierarchies, but females are dominant within the group. Females stay with the group in which they were born while males may leave when they reach adulthood.

Ring-tailed lemurs are endangered, largely because the sparse, dry forests they love are quickly vanishing.

The baby in the picture that Tami posted is newborn. They develope very quickly and look far more cute once the fluffy grey fur appears on their faces. Here's some more baby lemur pictures for you all.