Good news everyone!  The week of parasites is over and we are back to cute and cuddly Wild Facts.  I personally went out and found one of the cutest animals that we have yet to learn about just for you.  For the record, I still think the parasites were pretty cool.  Moving onto today’s animal, the Senegal Galago, also known as a Bush Baby. As you can probably tell by looking at them they are a nocturnal primate.  Well you may not have been able to tell that they are nocturnal but definitely a primate. Although, the large eyes provide excellent night vision and I am going to go out on a limb and say you noticed the eyes.

The Senegal Bushbaby can be found south of the Sahara Desert which is in Africa for my non-geographically inclined friends.  We are unclear how the term “Bushbaby” came to fruition but it is most likely due to either their appearance or the sharp cries that they make. These small primates have an average size of just 13 cm or 5 inches.  It is funny how small, furry things are cute while microscopic, blood-sucking, tongue replacing parasites are appalling.  I just don’t get it!

The Senegal Galago has long, thick and wooly fur which is usually silvery gray to brown in colour. Like their eyes, their ears are large and contain four ridges that allow them to bend back and wrinkle individual parts of their ears.  How about that for a party trick? As you would expect this adaptation provides them with increased hearing in all directions.  Other unique features of this crazy little bushbaby are the thickened pads on the end of their fingers and toes and their second tongue.  I know you are excited about the second tongue but first let’s quickly discuss the thickened pads which are just flat discs of thickened skin that aid the bushbaby in climbing.  Okay, okay onto the second tongue.  Yes, the Senegal Galago has a cartilaginous protuberance underneath their real tongue.  This “second tongue” is used in conjunction with their front teeth for grooming.  Even bushbabies know good hygiene is important.

That just about does it for today’s Wild Fact and like I promised the bushbaby was cute, cuddly and doesn’t take advantage of other unsuspecting animals.  Well it might but not in a parasitic way. Have a great day folks and I will see you tomorrow for another fuzzy animal.