Lē'mur, n.

noun

n. [Lat. lemur, pl. lemures, ghost, specter, on account of their habit of going abroad by night.] (Zoöl.) One of a family of nocturnal mammals allied to the monkeys, but of small size, and having a sharp and fox-like muzzle. They feed upon birds, insects, and fruit, and are natives of Madagascar and the neighboring islands.

Flying lemur. See GALEOPITHECUS.

An illustration of a red lemur perched on a branch, its long tail curving beneath it. — Red Lemur (*L. ruber*).