A galago, often known as a bush baby, is a small, nocturnal primate found exclusively in continental sub-Saharan Africa. They belong to the family Galagidae. The name “bush baby” is thought to derive from their distinctive cries or their appearance. Galagos navigate their environments effectively under the cover of darkness.
Distinctive Features
Galagos possess several physical traits that enable their nocturnal and arboreal lifestyle. Their large, round, forward-facing eyes are adapted for night vision, featuring a reflective layer behind the retina that enhances their ability to see in low light. These eyes are so large that they cannot move within their sockets, requiring the galago to turn its entire head up to 180 degrees to shift its gaze. Their ears are notably large and bat-like, equipped with four transverse ridges that allow them to be folded back or wrinkled downward from the tips. This flexibility helps them detect and track insects in the dark, and they can fold their delicate ears flat against their heads for protection when moving through dense or thorny vegetation.
The body of a galago is covered in thick, woolly fur, typically ranging in color from gray to light brown, sometimes with reddish or yellowish hues, providing camouflage in their natural habitat. They possess long, often bushy tails, which can be longer than their head and body combined, aiding in balance and propulsion during leaps. Their hind limbs are considerably longer and more muscular than their forelimbs, an adaptation for their powerful jumping ability. The ends of their fingers and toes have flat disks of thickened skin, providing better grip on branches and slippery surfaces.
Where They Live and How They Behave
Galagos inhabit a wide range of environments across sub-Saharan Africa, including forests, woodlands, savannas, and bushlands. Their geographical distribution spans numerous countries, from Senegal in the west to Somalia in the east, and extends southward to parts of South Africa. Some species, like the Moholi bush baby, thrive in savanna woodlands characterized by acacia trees, while others, such as the brown greater galago, prefer tropical and subtropical forests. Galagos typically seek shelter during the day in protected spots like tree hollows, dense vegetation, or abandoned bird nests, often sleeping in groups.
As nocturnal and arboreal primates, galagos are most active throughout the night. They move through trees with remarkable agility, often involving rapid quadrupedal running along branches and impressive leaps. They can jump several meters between supports, tucking their limbs close to their bodies mid-flight and extending them at the last second to grasp a new branch. Their powerful hind legs and elongated anklebones contribute to their jumping ability, allowing some species to clear distances of over two meters in a single vertical leap. While primarily tree-dwelling, galagos may occasionally forage on the ground, sometimes moving with a kangaroo-like hop.
What They Eat and How They Communicate
Galagos are omnivores with a diverse diet that varies depending on the species, season, and local availability of food. Their primary food sources include insects, fruits, and tree gum. Insects like moths, beetles, and grasshoppers provide a protein source, which galagos catch from leaves, branches, or even in mid-air using their quick reflexes. Larger galago species may also supplement their diet with small vertebrates such as frogs, lizards, or even tiny birds and their eggs.
Tree gum, or sap, is a carbohydrate staple, important during dry seasons when insects are less abundant. Galagos use specialized comb-like incisors on their lower jaw to scrape gum from tree bark, especially from acacia trees.
Galagos rely on vocalizations for communication, producing a wide array of calls that serve various purposes. These sounds can range from loud cries, sometimes described as resembling human babies, to chirps, chatters, and moans. Their vocal repertoire includes calls for social cohesion, such as attracting mates or signaling group membership, as well as alarm calls to warn others of predators. They also use calls for territorial advertisement and during agonistic interactions. Additionally, galagos use urine washing, coating their hands and feet with urine to mark territories and enhance grip on branches.