What is a lemur?

• A. A marine mammal
• B. A reptile unique to Madagascar
• C. A primate native to Madagascar
• D. A bird found in Africa

Answer: (C)

Lemurs are mammals in the primate group, specifically a lineage known as prosimians, and they are native to the island of Madagascar. Their status as primates means they share features with other primates—such as grasping hands and forward-facing eyes—yet they are more primitive in some traits compared to monkeys and apes. Madagascar’s long isolation allowed lemurs to diversify into many species with different sizes and behaviors, but they all belong to the primate family rather than being marine mammals, reptiles, or birds. So a lemur is a primate native to Madagascar.