768 



Comparative Morphology of Chorda tes 



animals classed as primates have brains quite inferior to those of 

 members of some other orders and not notably better than those of 

 insectivores. Among the lemurs, included as primates, are some animals 

 which could just as well be classed with insectivores were it not that 

 the lemurs have flat, horny, nail-like structures on some digits, are of 

 larger average size, and present a vaguely monkey-like appearance. 



Three Suborders may be recognized: 



Suborder LEMUROIDEA. Small, although some are as large as a 

 cat or larger; mostly arboreal and nocturnal; in general appearance 

 slightly resembling monkeys (Fig. 585). Eyes directed laterally; brain 

 relatively small and convolutions scantily developed. Digits bear 

 various combinations of claws and flat nails or intermediate structures, 

 but the second digit of the pes always bears a claw and the hallux 

 always a nail. Tail long but not prehensile. Uterus bicornis. One pair of 

 pectoral mammary organs; in some species, also an inguinal pair. 



These are the lemurs found in southern Asia, the East Indies and 

 Philippines, Africa, and especially numerous in Madagascar. 



Fig. 585 {Left). Bush baby, a lemur, Galago. (Courtesy, American Museum of 

 Natural History, New York.) 



Fig. 586 {Right). Tarsiiis. (Courtesy, Vogt and Specht: "Die Saugetiere iu 

 Wort und Bild," Munich, F. Bruckmann-Verlag.) 



