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lemur

UK/ˈliːmə(ɹ)/US/ˈliːmə(ɹ)/
nounB1+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #13,084 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: lemurs

A lemur is a long-tailed tree-dwelling animal of Madagascar. A ring-tailed lemur, a troop of lemurs, lemurs in the reserve.

They live wild nowhere else on earth, and most species are endangered because the forest is going. Many kinds live in groups led by females, which is unusual among mammals. The name is Latin for spirits of the dead, from the eyes and the night calls.

Katta család.jpg: Veszprémi Állatkert Aye-aye at night in the wild in Madagascar.jpg: Frank Vassen Red-tailed Sportive Lemur, Kirindy, Madagascar.jpg: Frank Vassen Diademed ready to push off.jpg: C. Michael Hogan Archaeoindris fontoynonti.jpg: Smokeybjb Microcebus murinus -Artis Zoo, Amsterdam, Netherlands-8a.jpg: Arjan Haverkamp Juvenile Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur, Mantadia, Madagascar.jpg: Frank Vassen Two Brown Lemur, Mantadia, Madagascar.jpg: Frank Vassen derivative work: Maky · CC BY-SA 3.0

Definitions of lemur

  1. 1nounlemurA long-tailed tree-dwelling animal of Madagascar.B1+

    “The ring-tailed lemur sat in the sun with its striped tail curled around it.”

lemur is an animal.

Where it comes from

Latin lemures means spirits of the dead. Linnaeus chose the name for the animals' eyes and night cries.

  1. Latin

    lemurēs — spirits of the dead

  2. English, today

    lemur

Borrowed from Latin lemurēs (“spirits of the dead”). From Latin lemurēs (“spirits of the dead”). The name was originally given to the red slender loris (then Lemur tardigradus) in 1754 by Carl Linnaeus. According to Linnaeus, the name was selected because of the nocturnal activity and slow movements of the red slender loris. In 1758, Linnaeus added, among others, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) to the genus Lemur. All other species, including the red slender loris, were eventually moved to other genera. In time, the word became the colloquial name for all primates endemic to Madagascar.{{cite-journal|author=A. R. Dunkel|coauthors=J. S.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in A Song of Ice and Fire

Practise this word

lemur in the wild

  • The sportive lemurs are the medium-sized primates that make up the family Lepilemuridae.

    Sportive lemur

  • Most existing lemurs are small, with a pointed snout, large eyes, and a long tail.

    Lemur

  • Due to Madagascar's highly seasonal climate, lemur evolution has produced a level of species diversity rivaling that of any other primate group.

    Lemur

  • Like all lemurs, it is endemic to the island of Madagascar, where it is endangered.

    Ring-tailed lemur

  • Mutual grooming is another vital aspect of lemur socialization (as with all primates), reaffirming social and familial connections, while also helping rid each other of any potential insects.

    Ring-tailed lemur

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.