Examples of animals that look like lemurs include Agile Gibbon, Bengal Slow Loris, Black Crested Gibbon, Bonobos, and Dian’s Tarsier.
Lemurs are primates that are only found in the wild on the island of Madagascar. With their characteristic big eyes, long tails, and round faces, they’re easily recognizable. But did you know that there are animals out there that look strikingly similar to lemurs?
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of those animals and find out what makes them so special. So read on to learn more about these lemur look-alikes.
Examples of Animals that Look Like Lemurs
1. Agile Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Hylobates agilis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. |
The agile gibbon, also known as the black-handed gibbon, is a primate that is found in the forests of Southeast Asia. Like lemurs, they are small in size and have long tails. They also have big eyes and round faces. However, their fur is darker than that of lemurs, and they do not have the characteristic white stripe that runs down the middle of their face.
2. Bengal Slow Loris
| Scientific Name | Nycticebus bengalensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Bangladesh, Cambodia, China |
The Bengal slow loris is a primate that is found in the wild in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night.
Slow lorises are one of the few primates that are venomous. They have a poisonous bite that can cause paralysis and even death in humans. However, they are not aggressive animals and will only bite if they feel threatened.
3. Black Crested Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Nomascus concolor |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southern China (Yunnan) and within certain ranges in Northwestern Laos and Northern Vietnam |
The Black Crested Gibbon is a primate that is found in the wild in Indonesia. Like lemurs, they are arboreal (tree-dwelling) and have long tails. They also have big eyes and round faces. However, their fur is black instead of the characteristic brown of lemurs.
4. Bonobos
| Scientific Name | Pan paniscus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the Democratic Republic of Congo |
Like lemurs, bonobos are primates that are found in the wild in a single country – in this case, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bonobos are similar to lemurs in a few ways: they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They also share a similar diet, eating mostly fruits and vegetables.
What sets bonobos apart from lemurs is their behavior. Bonobos are known for being very peaceful and loving animals, often engaging in hugs and sex to resolve conflict.
5. Dian’s Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius dentatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central Sulawesi, Indonesia |
The Dian’s tarsier (Tarsius dentatus) is a species of tarsier found only on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is closely related to the other tarsiers found in Southeast Asia and shares many similarities with them, including its small size, big eyes, and long tail. However, Dian’s tarsier is the only tarsier that is active during the day, making it more similar to lemurs in this respect.
6. Galagos
| Scientific Name | Galago senegalensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Sahara Africa |
Also known as bushbabies, galagos are small primates that are found in Africa. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They’re also nocturnal animals, meaning they’re most active at night.
Bushbabies are one of the smallest primates in the world, with some species weighing in at less than a pound. They’re also able to leap up to 20 feet in the air.
7. Gray Slender Loris
| Scientific Name | Loris lydekkerianus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Sri Lanka |
The gray slender loris is a small, nocturnal primate that is found in the rainforests of Sri Lanka and India. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also very similar in size, weighing in at just over 1 pound.
What sets the gray slender loris apart from lemurs is its diet. While lemurs are mainly herbivorous, the gray slender loris is an omnivore, meaning it eats both plants and animals. Additionally, the gray slender loris has a poisonous bite, which it uses to kill its prey.
8. Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius spectrumgurskyae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | island of Sulawesi |
Gursky’s spectral tarsier is a small primate that is found in the forests of Indonesia. It has large eyes, long legs, and furry tufts on its ears. Although it is not a true lemur, it shares many similarities with these animals.
The Gursky’s spectral tarsier is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. It is also a very good jumper, able to leap up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in a single bound! This tarsier has unique furry pads on its hands and feet that help it grip onto tree branches.
9. Horsfield’s Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Cephalopachus bancanus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southern Sumatra, Borneo, and nearby islands |
One of the most lemur-like animals out there is the Horsfield’s tarsier. Found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, this small primate has big eyes, long legs, and a long tail just like a lemur. What’s even more amazing is that it can turn its head 180 degrees.
10. Howler Monkeys
| Scientific Name | Alouatta |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southern Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Bolivia, and northern Argentina |
Howler monkeys are found in Central and South America and are some of the loudest animals in the world. They get their name from the loud, rumbling calls they make to communicate with each other. And like lemurs, they have long tails and big eyes. But that’s where the similarities end.
Related Article: 29 Animals Like Monkeys
11. Jatna’s Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius supriatnai |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Indonesia |
Jatna’s tarsier is a small primate that is found in the forests of Indonesia. It has a body that is similar in size to a lemur’s, and it also has big eyes and a long tail. However, its face is more elongated than a lemur’s, and its ears are much larger.
Jatna’s tarsier is a nocturnal animal, meaning that it is active at night. It spends its days sleeping in tree hollows or curled up in a ball. When night falls, it sets out in search of food. Its diet consists mainly of insects, but it will also eat small mammals and reptiles.
12. Javan Slow Loris
| Scientific Name | Nycticebus javanicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | The Indonesian island of Java |
The Javan slow loris is a primate that is found in the wild on the island of Java in Indonesia. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night.
What sets the Javan slow loris apart from lemurs is their diet. While lemurs are mostly herbivorous, eating leaves, fruits, and flowers, the Javan slow loris is a carnivore, meaning they eat meat. In fact, they are one of the only known primates that are carnivores.
13. Lar Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Hylobates lar |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
The lar gibbon is a type of gibbon, which is a small ape. Lar gibbons are found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. They’re black with white markings on their face, chest, and hands. And like lemurs, they have long tails that they use for balance.
14. Lariang Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius lariang |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Indonesian island of Sulawesi |
The lariang tarsier is a small primate that is found in the forests of Indonesia. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. However, the lariang tarsier is much smaller than a lemur, with a body length of only about 15 centimeters (6 inches).
15. Macaque
| Scientific Name | Macaca |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India |
The macaque is a type of monkey that is found in Asia and Africa. Like lemurs, they have long tails and big eyes. They also have round faces and small noses. Macaques are known for their intelligence and their ability to use tools.
16. Makassar Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius fuscus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | island of Sulawesi |
The Makassar tarsier is a small primate that is found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Like lemurs, they have big eyes and long tails. They also have very long fingers and toes, which they use to climb trees.
Tarsiers are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night. During the day, they sleep in tree hollows or nests that they build out of leaves and twigs.
17. Müller’s Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Hylobates muelleri |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | island of Borneo |
The Müller’s gibbon (Hylobates muelleri) is a primate that is found in the forests of Indonesia. Like lemurs, they are arboreal (tree-dwelling) and have long tails. They also have big eyes and round faces. However, Müller’s gibbons are much smaller than lemurs, weighing only about 4-5 kg (9-11 lbs).
18. Niemitz’s Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius niemitzi |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Sulawesi |
Niemitz’s tarsier is a small primate that is found in the forests of Indonesia. It has a similar appearance to a lemur, with big eyes, a long tail, and round face. However, it is not closely related to lemurs. Instead, it is more closely related to monkeys and apes.
19. Peleng Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius pelengensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Sulawesi |
Found only on the remote Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the Peleng tarsier is a small primate with big eyes and long limbs. Although it’s not a lemur, it does share some similarities with these furry creatures.
20. Philippine Slow Loris
| Scientific Name | Nycticebus menagensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | island of Borneo |
The Philippine slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) is a primate that is found in the forests of the Philippines. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are nocturnal animals and spend their days sleeping in trees.
21. Philippine Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Carlito syrichta |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the rainforests of the Philippines |
The Philippine tarsier is a small primate that is found on the islands of Bohol, Samar, and Leyte in the Philippines. Like lemurs, they have big eyes and long tails. But their most distinctive feature is their extremely long legs.
22. Pileated Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Hylobates pileatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Thailand and northwest Cambodia, Asia |
The Pileated Gibbon (Hylobates pileatus) is a species of primate that is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Like lemurs, they are small animals with big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also known for their loud calls, which can be heard up to 2 kilometers away.
23. Pygmy Slow Loris
| Scientific Name | Nycticebus pygmaeus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Vietnam and evergreen forest in Laos |
The pygmy slow loris is a species of primate that is found in the wild in Southeast Asia. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They’re also small animals, with an average weight of only 1-2 pounds.
What sets the pygmy slow loris apart from lemurs is their diet. While lemurs are mostly herbivores, eating leaves and fruits, the pygmy slow loris is a carnivore, feeding on insects, spiders, and other small animals.
24. Pygmy Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius pumilus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central Sulawesi, Indonesia |
The Pygmy Tarsier is a small primate that is found in the wild in Indonesia and the Philippines. Like lemurs, they have big eyes and long tails. But their most striking feature is their furry body, which is covered in brown and gray fur.
25. Red Slender Loris
| Scientific Name | Loris tardigradus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Sri Lanka |
The Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus) is a small, nocturnal primate that is found in the forests of Sri Lanka and southern India. Like lemurs, slender lorises have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They also have another similarity to lemurs in that they are both arboreal animals, meaning they spend most of their time in trees.
26. Siamangs
| Scientific Name | Symphalangus syndactylus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the mountains of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra in rainforests and monsoon forests |
The siamang is a type of gibbon, which is a small ape. Like lemurs, siamangs are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. They’re also native to Madagascar. However, siamangs are much larger than lemurs, weighing up to 11 kg (24 lb).
27. Siau Island Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius tumpara |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Indonesia |
The Siau Island tarsier is a small primate that is found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. However, they are much smaller than lemurs, measuring only about 4 inches (10 cm) tall.
28. Silvery Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Hylobates moloch |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Indonesian island of Java |
The next animal on our list is the Silvery Gibbon. This ape is found in the tropical forests of Indonesia and can be easily distinguished by its silver-gray fur. What’s interesting about this gibbon is that it’s the only member of its genus to have this coloration.
29. Spectral Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius tarsier |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | on the island of Selayar in Indonesia |
The spectral tarsier is a small primate that is found in the wild in Indonesia and the Philippines. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night.
30. Spider Monkeys
| Scientific Name | Ateles |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | eastern South America in areas north of the Amazon River |
These monkeys are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They get their name from their long, spindly legs that make them look like spiders. Spider monkeys are very social animals and live in groups of up to 40 individuals.
31. Squirrel Monkeys
| Scientific Name | Saimiri |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | South America |
Found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, squirrel monkeys are small primates that look very similar to lemurs. They have big eyes, long tails, and round faces, just like lemurs. But what sets them apart is their fur. Squirrel monkeys have bright-colored fur, which can be orange, yellow, or green. This colorful fur is thought to help them attract mates.
32. Sunda Slow Loris
| Scientific Name | Nycticebus coucang |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | The Sunda Islands in Malaysia |
The Sunda slow loris is a primate that is found in the wild in Southeast Asia. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night.
33. Tarsius
| Scientific Name | Tarsiidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the Philippines |
Tarsius are small primates that are found in the wild in Southeast Asia. Like lemurs, they have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. But that’s where the similarities end. Tarsius are actually more closely related to monkeys and apes than they are to lemurs.
34. Wallace’s Tarsier
| Scientific Name | Tarsius wallacei |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | island of Sulawesi |
The Wallace’s tarsier is a small primate that lives in the forests of Indonesia. It has big eyes, long legs, and a long tail, just like a lemur. However, it is not closely related to lemurs at all. Rather, it is more closely related to monkeys and apes.
35. Western Hoolock Gibbon
| Scientific Name | Hoolock hoolock |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Bangladesh, and into western Myanmar |
The Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is a primate that is found in the forests of Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. Like lemurs, they are small in size and have big eyes, long tails, and round faces. They are also the only apes found in Bangladesh.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of animals that look like lemurs. These animals share some common features, such as big eyes and long tails, but they also have unique characteristics that set them apart from lemurs.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.