Who's Visiting? - MyFoxTallahassee.com

Who's Visiting?

What's that rustling in the trees? Is it a monkey? Is it a ghost? No- it's black-and-white ruffed lemurs! On July 4th, the Tallahassee Museum will proudly welcome one of the world's critically endangered animals: black-and-white ruffed lemurs. This male and female pair of lemurs is visiting from the Brevard Zoo.

Native to the Republic of Madagascar, lemurs are prime examples of the bizarre biodiversity of their island home (just look at their opposable thumbs and wet noses). Because of their haunting vocalizations and reflective eyes, European explorers named them after the lemures, ghosts or spirits of the restless dead in Roman mythology. The native Malagasy people believed that lemurs embodied the souls of deceased ancestors.

Lemurs in the wild have a diet made up primarily of fruit- up to 90%!- figs, nectar, flowers, and leaves. In captivity, these lemurs eat monkey biscuits soaked in apple juice and seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Our guest lemurs enjoy basking in the Florida sun, and are notorious for stretching into comical poses to maximize their sun exposure. These active and interesting prosimians are sure to intrigue anyone with an opposable thumb.

Come hear their roaring-screech for yourself at the Tallahassee Museum, beginning Wednesday, July 4th. These unique black-and-white ruffed lemurs will only be in the Panhandle for a limited time.