Lesser bushbaby

Lesser bushbabies, also known as lesser galagos, are small, nocturnal primates native to Africa. They belong to the genus *Galago* within the family Galagidae, and they thrive in a variety of habitats including forests, savannahs, woodlands, and areas near rivers. These fascinating creatures have a unique method of marking their territory: they urinate on their hands and on the trees they climb, creating scent trails to follow night after night.

Related to lorises, lesser bushbabies are much faster and rely on their speed to hunt, unlike their more stealthy cousins. Interesting to note, it is believed that primitive bushbabies might be the ancestors of lemurs.

The breeding season for lesser bushbabies typically coincides with the rainy season. Females usually give birth to twins after a gestation period of 125-142 days and may mate with multiple males during this time. After giving birth, mothers initially keep their young in nests or tree hollows. As the infants grow, the mothers hide them in foliage while they forage at night.

In terms of diet, galagos primarily feed on insects and tree gums, occasionally consuming small invertebrates. These primates are usually brown-grey or light-grey with distinctive dark markings around their eyes. Adapted to an arboreal lifestyle, they are excellent leapers and possess specialized flattened disks on their hands and feet that help them grip branches.

While galagos prefer to forage alone, they are quite social and gather in groups at night. During the day, they sleep together in groups of about six individuals. Communication is essential for these primates, and they have up to 18 different calls, which can be classified into defensive/aggressive, social contact, and annunciatory calls. They also possess highly developed hearing.

The *Galago* genus includes several species, such as the Somali bushbaby, Mohol bushbaby, and Senegal bushbaby in the *G. senegalensis* group, as well as the Dusky bushbaby in the *G. matschiei* group.