Galago – an African hodgepodge full of surprises

At first glance, this creature looks like a lemur. If you look a little more closely, the small furry creature begins to show features of a squirrel, a mouse and a cat.

However, any self-respecting squirrel would sell their soul for the luxurious fluffy tail of a galago (Galago), one of the most numerous African primates. Very fluffy and good.

The dimensions of galagos are modest - body length is approximately 15 centimeters with a tail of 20-22 centimeters. The coat color varies from light gray to brown. This exotic miracle weighs an average of 200 grams. But what kind of baby manages to do somersaults in the vastness of forests and savannahs.

It doesn’t even easily jump over, but gracefully flies from branch to branch, going out to hunt for small vertebrates when darkness falls. Galagos live in splendid isolation, but sometimes they can gather in small groups.

The nocturnal and even arboreal lifestyle is distinguished by its more complex specifics. But enterprising babies, whom Africans call bush babies for their ability to imitate children's cries, have learned to cope with all the attendant problems with the help of smell.

It happens like this: when the animal’s body gets rid of excess fluid, the galago puts up its palms and thoroughly wets them with urine. And during jumps, the particles remain on the bark, forming a kind of scented paths, along which you can easily wander even in the dark and with your eyes closed.

Specific fragrances perform another function - they help ladies find a suitable match. When the girl smells a potential gentleman, she begins to scream heart-rendingly. The inspired groom, whose physiological fluid was appreciated by the bride, happily rushes to the call.

The couple does not have any candy-bouquet periods or any courtship. After a short act aimed at procreation, the cunning male also smears his chosen one with urine. Marks so that rivals cannot lay claim to the lady of his heart. She can also freely visit the territory chosen by her galago husband.

But this is not all the bells and whistles associated with urine. The cute galago ears are very delicate, which in dry climates can cause dry skin and severe discomfort. To eliminate it, the animals use the same liquid that settles in their paws. The ears are generously moistened with urine to prevent them from drying out.

Despite their specific adaptation methods, animals are very smart. Their vocabulary includes about 18 different sounds that galagos use to warn of a threat and simply chat with their relatives.

Galagos prefer to drink their prey – birds, rodents and lizards – with tree sap. This gastronomic habit quickly became a threat to furry ones. In hot climates, fruit and tree juices quickly begin to ferment. And the galagos get drunk. They can be safely collected from branches, like fruits, for the purpose of domestication.

Babies are quite capricious and require special care. But with proper care and love, long-eared creatures feel good in captivity and reciprocate the feelings of their owners.