Moholi Bushbaby
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Order
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Estimated Wild Population
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Physical Description
Moholi bushbabies are small primates with grayish-brown fur that is lighter on their limbs and trunk. They use their oversized ears and eyes to detect both predators and their insect prey. Their long tails help with balance as they jump from tree to tree, propelled by long back legs ideal for vertical climbing and leaping. Nocturnal, they spend the day nesting in tree holes, often packed with multiple individuals, to hide from predators, such as large birds, snakes, and mongooses. Moholi bushbabies have a polygynous mating system in which dominant males breed females within surrounding territories.
Interesting Fact 1
Moholi bushbabies communicate non-verbally through "urine washing," in which they douse their hands and feet with urine to mark their territory.
Interesting Fact 2
Females and their young form the core of their small family groups. Members aggressively defend their territory from others and force juvenile males to leave their natal group at maturity.
Interesting Fact 3
Females either build their own nest or take over an abandoned bird nest.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
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Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
