the tiny pygmy mouse lemur

The Latin word lemurs means "ghost"

including pygmy mouse lemurs, 

possibly because

they are active at night 

and have an eerie, 

large-eyed stare!

 

There are eight species of pygmy mouse lemurs, 

and several have been identified only in the past few years.

The pygmy mouse lemur is only 6 inches, 

(more than half being the tail),

fitting in a hand;

babies fitting on a thumb.

Pygmy mouse lemurs are 

the smallest primate
in the whole wide world!

Wow!

Lemurs live on the Island of Madagascar off of Africa.

Hi Madagascar movie!

Pygmy mouse lemurs sleep aloft, 

in the baobab trees

during the day and forage at night.

Footage shows the tiny animals licking 

syrup on flowers of the baobab tree.

And moths, visiting, too, are yummier,

both being pollinators for the host baobabs.

Hi Little Prince!

Pygmy mouse lemurs enter a dormant state 

during Madagascar's dry season, from May to  October. 

Females are inactive during this time 

and may not leave their tree holes,

the little cutie pies!