Indri: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Lemurs and Little Primates · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. The indri is a singer. Its loud songs usually run anywhere between 45 seconds and over 3 minutes.
2. Before singing, indris climb to the treetops. From up there, their voices can carry up to 4 km away.
3. Two or more indris often time their falling notes together, turning the song into a duet.
4. No other living lemur has a tail like it: the indri's is just a tiny stub. Its long, strong legs push it from trunk to trunk.
5. A baby indri travels holding on under its mother, until four or five months of age. Then it climbs onto her back.

The quiz

1. How long can an indri's song last?

• Up to 2 seconds
• Over 3 minutes (correct)
• A whole day
• Exactly 1 hour

Its songs run between 45 seconds and over 3 minutes.

2. Why do indris climb to the treetops before singing?

• To catch insects
• To keep dry
• So they can be heard far away (correct)
• To hide from the sun

From the treetops, their song can be heard up to 4 km away.

3. What do two or more indris often do together when singing?

• Clap their hands
• Beat on tree trunks
• Sing the same note forever
• Time their notes to form a duet (correct)

They coordinate their falling notes to form a duet.

4. What makes the indri's tail unusual among living lemurs?

• It is only a tiny stub (correct)
• It is striped like a zebra
• It can grab branches
• It is twice as long as its body

No other living lemur has such a tiny stub of a tail.

5. Where does a baby indri ride after four or five months?

• On its father's head
• In a nest of leaves
• On its mother's back (correct)
• On its mother's tail

It first clings to her belly, then moves onto her back.

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