·
Bushbabies
are also called galagos. ·
Bushbabies hop like kangaroos while
on the ground. ·
Dwarf bushbabies are the same size as lesser
bushbabies but weigh less. These
tiny animals have soft, thick fur. Their
fur is grey or light brown and their large eyes are orange.
They live in
woodlands and the edges of forests. Lesser bushbabies eat
mostly insects, such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, butterflies, beetles, moths
and more, but also vegetation such as fruit, flowers, leaves and tree sap. Lesser bushbabies mate every four to eight months and
gestation lasts approximately four
months. Females give birth alone in a nest made of leaves. Newborns are fully
furred and can see at birth, but move awkwardly. Mothers carry their babies in
their mouths for the first 50 days of their lives. Bushbabies are active at night. During the day they sleep in
tree hollows. They live in groups of up to five individuals. When confronted by
danger, they make huge leaps (up to 8 metres/8.7 yards) to get away. Lesser bushbabies are not considered a conservation risk at
this time. All the
World’s Animals: Primates. Torstar Books, 1985 Life Nature
Library: The Primates, Time-Life Books, 1980 A Complete
Guide to Monkeys, Apes and other Primates, Michael Kavanagh, Oregon Press
Limited, 1983 http://www.duke.edu/web/primate/lesserbb.html http://home.vicnet.net.au/~neils/africa/bushbaby3.htm http://www.szgdocent.org/pp/p-galago.htm
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Primates
Family:
Galigonidae
Size:
Length: 6 to 6.5 inches (15 to 16.8 cm)
Weight:
5 to 8 ounces (140 to 230 g)
Diet:
Mostly insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, butterflies and moths,
but also fruit, seeds and flowers
Distribution:
Central Southern Africa
Young:
1 or 2 young every 4 to 8 months
Animal Predators:
Birds of prey
IUCN Status:
No special status
Terms:
No special terms
Lifespan:
3 to 4 years in the wild, 10 to 15 years in captivity
Facts/Trivia:
Description
Habitat
Feeding Habits
Reproduction
Behaviour
Conservation
Sources