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Galago

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Galagos are small, nocturnal primates native to continental, sub-Saharan Africa. They belong to the family Galagidae, which is sometimes called Galagonidae. These animals are also known as bush babies or nagapies. In Afrikaans, the word nagapies means "night monkeys."

Bushbabies
Bushbabies

According to the African Wildlife Foundation, bush babies are the most successful strepsirrhine primates in Africa. They are considered a sister group to the Lorisidae family. The name "bush baby" may come from their appearance or their cries. In Ghana, they are called aposor because of how firmly they grip branches.

Galago (Otolicnus Galago)
Galago (Otolicnus Galago)

The physical design of a galago is perfect for life in the dark. They have large eyes that provide excellent night vision. Their ears are shaped like a bat's ears to help them track insects. They use these ears to find prey on the ground or snatch insects from the air. Most of their digits have nails, but the second toe on the hind foot has a grooming claw. They also have a dental feature called toothcombs. These are pectinate, or comb-like, incisors used for grooming. Their diet consists of fruit, tree gums, and small animals or insects.

Galagos are famous for their incredible jumping abilities. A galago can cover ten yards in just a few seconds. The highest reliably reported jump is about 4 meters.

Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby)
Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby)

To perform these leaps, they use strong hind limbs and a long tail for balance. The tail is longer than the length of the head and body combined. A study in the Royal Society suggests their jumping is very efficient. This is because their leg muscles make up about 25% of their body mass. Their tendons in the lower legs store elastic energy. This allows them to jump six to nine times better than a frog. During flight, they tuck their limbs in and extend them at the last second to grab a branch.

Scientists categorize galagos into six different genera. One genus is Euoticus, which is a basal sister taxon to all other galagids. The genus Galagoides includes dwarf galagos. Genetic data and vocalization analysis show these are actually two separate clades. One group is found in eastern Africa, while the other is in western or central Africa. The genus Paragalago consists of eastern dwarf galagos. Other genera include Otolemur, which are the greater galagos or thick-tailed bushbabies. There is also the genus Sciurocheirus, known as squirrel galagos.

Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby)
Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby)

Reproduction and social life follow specific patterns. After a gestation period of 110 to 133 days, young galagos are born. They are born with half-closed eyes and cannot move alone. For the first three days, the infant stays in constant contact with the mother. After six to eight days, the mother may carry the infant in her mouth. She might also place the infant on branches while she feeds. Infants are fed by the mother for six weeks. By two months of age, they can feed themselves. Newborns are very small, weighing less than 100 grams.

Social structures are a mix of solitary and social behaviors. Females live in territories shared with their offspring. Males typically leave their mothers' territories after they reach puberty. Adult males maintain separate territories that overlap with female groups. Often, one adult male mates with all the females in an area. Some males that do not have territories form bachelor groups.

Bushbabies
Bushbabies

Galagos communicate using loud calls and scent marking. Each species has a unique set of calls. Scientists use these calls to identify different species. They also mark paths with urine so they can land on the same branch repeatedly. At the end of the night, they use a rallying call to gather in a nest of leaves or a tree hole.

Galagos have a complex relationship with humans. In some cultures, the name "bush baby" is part of a myth used to scare children. The myth claims a powerful animal might kidnap humans, likely based on the animal's cries. In Nigeria, it is said that wild bush babies never die on plain ground. Instead, they make a nest of sticks or leaves to die in. Humans sometimes keep them as pets. However, like many nonhuman primates, they can be a source of diseases that cross species barriers. In captivity, they can live between 12.0 and 16.5 years.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Bushbabies.JPG
Bushbabies.JPG
File:Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby).jpg
Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby).jpg
File:Galago (Otolicnus Galago).png
Galago (Otolicnus Galago).png
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