Lemur volatilis

The ring tailed lemur, or Lemur catta, is native to Madagascar. It spends time in trees. Their predators, cat-like mammals called fossas, climb trees and jump from trees like lemurs. Lemurs are on the endangered species list because of loss of habitat. My future creature is called Lemur volatilis (“Volatilis” meaning flying in Latin). In the future they will be able to glide from trees like flying squirrels. Since trees are lessening, the closest tree may be farther. Lemurs won’t be able to jump to it to escape from fossas. A lemur will have a genetic mutation and through natural selection, ring tailed lemurs will evolve. Temperatures are getting warmer, and lemurs will be able to sweat through their tongues like dogs. Before, lemurs couldn’t sweat. Their way of cooling down was to lick their hands, which makes them vulnerable to being eaten. With these new traits, they will survive.