Galago

Galagos or bush babies are small, nocturnal primates native to continental Africa. Like other members of the Galagonidae, they have an acute sense of hearing. They are sometimes included as a subfamily within the Loridae or Lorisidae.

The Galagonidae are grouped into three genera, Euoticus, Galago, and Otolemur:

• Southern Needle-clawed Galago, Euoticus elegantulus
• Eastern Needle-clawed Galago, Euoticus inustus
• Northern Needle-clawed Galago, Euoticus pallidus
• Allen's Galago, Galago alleni
• Demidoff's Galago, Galago demidoff
• Southern Lesser Galago, Galago moholi
• Lesser Galago, Galago senegalensis
• Thomas's Galago, Galago thomasi
• Zanzibar Galago, Galago zanzibaricus
• Greater Galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus
• Garnett's Galago, Otolemur garnettii
• Silvery Greater Galago, Otolemur monteiri

The lesser galago is also known as a "bush baby". The name "bush baby" may come either from the animals' cries or from their cute appearance. They are agile leapers, and run swiftly along branches. They have large eyes, giving them good night vision; strong hind limbs; and long tails, which help them balance. Their diet is a mixture of insects and other small animals, fruit, and tree gums.

Bush babies are born with half-closed eyes, unable to move about independently. After a few days, the mother carries the infant in her mouth, and leaves it on convenient branches while feeding.

Adult females maintain territories, but share them with their offspring. Males leave their mothers' territories after puberty, but females remain, forming social groups consisting of closely related females and their immature young. Adult males maintain separate territories, which overlap with those of the female social groups; generally, one adult male mates with all the females in an area. Males who have not established such territories sometimes form small bachelor groups.

Bush babies communicate both by calling to each other, and by marking their paths with their urine. At the end of the night, group members use a special rallying call and gather to sleep in a nest made of leaves, a group of branches, or a hole in a tree.