Galago

Night vision

Galagos are nocturnal and have enormous eyes relative to skull size — among the largest eye-to-head ratios of any primate. The eyes contain a high density of rod cells for low-light vision and a tapetum lucidum (reflective layer) that causes the characteristic eye-shine when caught in torchlight. The eyes are fixed in the skull and cannot rotate, so galagos must rotate their entire head to change their field of view, which they do with owlish speed.

The leap

Galagos are extraordinary jumpers. Their elongated hindlimb proportions — particularly the elongated ankle bones — store elastic energy like a spring, releasing it in explosive bursts. A bushbaby can leap 2 metres or more vertically from a standing start. This leaping ability is used both for locomotion through the canopy and for catching flying insects in mid-air, which galagos do with great precision in complete darkness.

Acoustic communication

The calls that gave galagos the name “bush baby” are produced mainly by females and young and serve as contact and distress calls. Adults also produce a complex range of calls — threat calls, alarm calls, and coordinated duets. Galagos have highly mobile, membranous ears that can independently track sounds — they fold flat during sleep or when moving through vegetation. The hearing range extends into ultrasound, allowing them to detect insect movements beyond human hearing.

Social structure

Galagos are solitary foragers but not entirely asocial. Females typically maintain overlapping home ranges with their female offspring, forming loose matrilineal groups. Males have larger, overlapping territories and visit female ranges during the breeding season. Day roosting is communal, with groups sleeping huddled together in tree hollows or dense vegetation. The social bonds are maintained through scent marking and calls.