In contrast, common names \u2013 due to confusion, ignorance, or physical similarity between only distantly related species- may be anything but useful and accurate. They can end up being quite misleading. Here are ten of our favourite animal misnomers.<\/p>\n
Animals with misleading names<\/h2>\nHoney bear (Potos flavus)<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\nThe honey bear or \u2018kinkajou\u2019 is doubly misleading. Not only is in fact a member of the racoon family, but it doesn\u2019t even really eat honey! Thought to be given the name because they occasionally raid bee\u2019s nests, and may use their long extensible tongues to lick up honey, honey bears are actually primarily frugivorous (fruit-eating), with as much as 90% of their diet consisting of ripe fruits. Why they have been called bears is harder to know, because there is not much resemblance!<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Kinkajou (Potos flavus), Central or South America. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nRed panda (Ailurus fulgens<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nAnother mistaken \u2018bear\u2019 is the red panda (of Master Shifu fame in the Kung-Fu Panda<\/em> films). Red pandas are not pandas at all, or at least not closely related to the giant panda (which is a member of the bear family). They are instead the only living members of their own taxonomic family, Ailuridae, <\/i>and are more closely related to racoons, skunks, and badgers. The name \u2018panda\u2019 is however thought to come from the Nepali word \u2018ponya,\u2019 which means bamboo or plant-eating animal, which is perfectly accurate.<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A red panda in the treetops. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWhale shark<\/a> (Rhincodon typus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nNames can often lead to confusion when they are given in relation to a physical characteristic, such as size, rather than in reference to a familial relationship. This is true of the whale shark<\/a>, which is not a whale, just as big as some. This species of shark (and therefore a fish) has been known to grow up to 18.8 m in length, comparable to a sperm whale, and is the largest non-cetacean (the whale and dolphin group)<\/a> animal in the world. As well as size, it is similar to whales in another regard, being a filter feeder in a manner similar to baleen whales.<\/p>\nLearn more about this fascinating fish in our whale shark guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Whale sharks, the world\u2019s largest fish, are native to tropical seas around the world. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nGuinea pig (Cavia porcellus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nBeing neither from Guinea nor a pig, it is hard to understand how these little rodents got their misleading name. One theory is that they were brought to England via Guinea, leading people to believe that they were from there. Another is that they were sold for the price of a guinea \u2013 although this does not check out, as the name predates the use of the coin. As for pig, there isn\u2019t really even a physical resemblance for it to be attributed to, although the noises they make are perhaps a little similar?<\/p>\n
It is not just the English that found some likeness to pigs, however, with reference being made in multiple languages. In German, they are known as Meerschweinchen<\/i> (\u201clittle sea pig\u201d) and in Polish \u015bwinka morska<\/i> (\u201csea pig\u201d).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A guinea pig. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n More related content:<\/p>\n
- Extinct parrot from Rio<\/em> movie makes a comeback in Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
- Can animals catch yawns off humans?<\/a><\/li>\n
- 12 animals named after celebrities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
![\""The\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2018\/09\/Spixs_Macaw_Cyanopsitta_spixii_%C2%A9_Al_Wabra_Wildlife_Preservation-f5a521b.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"The\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Bearcat (Arctictis binturong<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nAs you can probably guess, this animal is not a bear, nor a cat, nor closely related to either. Like the red panda, it is out there on its own, being the only living species in its genus Arctictis<\/i>. The cat-like face and bear-like body do perhaps belie the name, however. Commonly also known as Binturongs, these South and Southeast Asian mammals are only one of two carnivores to have a prehensile tail \u2013 a tail that has evolved to be able to grasp or hold objects (the other being the honey bear).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Bearcat (Arctictis binturong) \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFlying fox (Pteropus<\/i> genus) <\/span><\/h3>\nIt is quite easy to see how this ginger-haired bat acquired its misleading name. Its face and colouring really are quite reminiscent of a fox. The massive wings, however, less so.<\/p>\n
There are actually about 60 species in this \u2018megabat\u2019 genus, of varying size. The largest is the aptly named \u2018large flying fox\u2019, which can have a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres, the longest of any bat species! Flying foxes are fruit eaters, and eat a lot of it, consuming as much as 35% of their body weight daily.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Lyle\u2019s flying fox Pteropus lylei Male Bat Sleeps on the tree. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWant to find out more? Check out BatFest: what it is, when it\u2019s on, and how to take part<\/a>.<\/p> Killer whales (Orcinus orca<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nOkay, this one is not nearly so misleading as some, as killer whales (or orcas) are really very closely related to whales, and belong to the same order, Cetacea. <\/i>But technically, <\/i>they are dolphins, not whales, being the largest members of the Delphinidae <\/i>family. The shape and size do give this relationship away somewhat, as orcas have more physical resemblance to other dolphins than they do whales, with their beak-shaped mouths and compact, curved bodies. Although big for dolphins, they are also on the smaller end of the scale when compared to whales. The largest whale, the blue whale, can grow to nearly 30 metres in length, for example, making even the largest orca of 7 metres look puny in comparison!<\/p>\n- Whales, dolphins and porpoises of the UK guide: which species to look out for, how to identify, and where to see them<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Photo taken in Tofino, Canada<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFlying lemur<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\nOne big clue that this name is not quite trustworthy is that flying lemurs<\/a> are not<\/i> found on the island of Madagascar. As you may or may not know, true lemurs are only <\/i>found in Madagascar. They are not even primates, which lemurs (and monkeys and apes, including us) are \u2013 although they are the\u00a0primates\u2019 closest evolutionary cousins.<\/p>\nAnd guess what? They don\u2019t fly either. They glide impressively through the trees using large membranes of skin between their front and hind limbs \u2013 not wings.<\/p>\n
The honey bear or \u2018kinkajou\u2019 is doubly misleading. Not only is in fact a member of the racoon family, but it doesn\u2019t even really eat honey! Thought to be given the name because they occasionally raid bee\u2019s nests, and may use their long extensible tongues to lick up honey, honey bears are actually primarily frugivorous (fruit-eating), with as much as 90% of their diet consisting of ripe fruits. Why they have been called bears is harder to know, because there is not much resemblance!<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-200351747-001-c4a8ec0.jpg?quality=90&resize=618%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Red panda (Ailurus fulgens<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nAnother mistaken \u2018bear\u2019 is the red panda (of Master Shifu fame in the Kung-Fu Panda<\/em> films). Red pandas are not pandas at all, or at least not closely related to the giant panda (which is a member of the bear family). They are instead the only living members of their own taxonomic family, Ailuridae, <\/i>and are more closely related to racoons, skunks, and badgers. The name \u2018panda\u2019 is however thought to come from the Nepali word \u2018ponya,\u2019 which means bamboo or plant-eating animal, which is perfectly accurate.<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A red panda in the treetops. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWhale shark<\/a> (Rhincodon typus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nNames can often lead to confusion when they are given in relation to a physical characteristic, such as size, rather than in reference to a familial relationship. This is true of the whale shark<\/a>, which is not a whale, just as big as some. This species of shark (and therefore a fish) has been known to grow up to 18.8 m in length, comparable to a sperm whale, and is the largest non-cetacean (the whale and dolphin group)<\/a> animal in the world. As well as size, it is similar to whales in another regard, being a filter feeder in a manner similar to baleen whales.<\/p>\nLearn more about this fascinating fish in our whale shark guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Whale sharks, the world\u2019s largest fish, are native to tropical seas around the world. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nGuinea pig (Cavia porcellus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nBeing neither from Guinea nor a pig, it is hard to understand how these little rodents got their misleading name. One theory is that they were brought to England via Guinea, leading people to believe that they were from there. Another is that they were sold for the price of a guinea \u2013 although this does not check out, as the name predates the use of the coin. As for pig, there isn\u2019t really even a physical resemblance for it to be attributed to, although the noises they make are perhaps a little similar?<\/p>\n
It is not just the English that found some likeness to pigs, however, with reference being made in multiple languages. In German, they are known as Meerschweinchen<\/i> (\u201clittle sea pig\u201d) and in Polish \u015bwinka morska<\/i> (\u201csea pig\u201d).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A guinea pig. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n More related content:<\/p>\n
- Extinct parrot from Rio<\/em> movie makes a comeback in Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
- Can animals catch yawns off humans?<\/a><\/li>\n
- 12 animals named after celebrities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Bearcat (Arctictis binturong<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nAs you can probably guess, this animal is not a bear, nor a cat, nor closely related to either. Like the red panda, it is out there on its own, being the only living species in its genus Arctictis<\/i>. The cat-like face and bear-like body do perhaps belie the name, however. Commonly also known as Binturongs, these South and Southeast Asian mammals are only one of two carnivores to have a prehensile tail \u2013 a tail that has evolved to be able to grasp or hold objects (the other being the honey bear).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Bearcat (Arctictis binturong) \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFlying fox (Pteropus<\/i> genus) <\/span><\/h3>\nIt is quite easy to see how this ginger-haired bat acquired its misleading name. Its face and colouring really are quite reminiscent of a fox. The massive wings, however, less so.<\/p>\n
There are actually about 60 species in this \u2018megabat\u2019 genus, of varying size. The largest is the aptly named \u2018large flying fox\u2019, which can have a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres, the longest of any bat species! Flying foxes are fruit eaters, and eat a lot of it, consuming as much as 35% of their body weight daily.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Lyle\u2019s flying fox Pteropus lylei Male Bat Sleeps on the tree. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWant to find out more? Check out BatFest: what it is, when it\u2019s on, and how to take part<\/a>.<\/p> Killer whales (Orcinus orca<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nOkay, this one is not nearly so misleading as some, as killer whales (or orcas) are really very closely related to whales, and belong to the same order, Cetacea. <\/i>But technically, <\/i>they are dolphins, not whales, being the largest members of the Delphinidae <\/i>family. The shape and size do give this relationship away somewhat, as orcas have more physical resemblance to other dolphins than they do whales, with their beak-shaped mouths and compact, curved bodies. Although big for dolphins, they are also on the smaller end of the scale when compared to whales. The largest whale, the blue whale, can grow to nearly 30 metres in length, for example, making even the largest orca of 7 metres look puny in comparison!<\/p>\n- Whales, dolphins and porpoises of the UK guide: which species to look out for, how to identify, and where to see them<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Photo taken in Tofino, Canada<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFlying lemur<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\nOne big clue that this name is not quite trustworthy is that flying lemurs<\/a> are not<\/i> found on the island of Madagascar. As you may or may not know, true lemurs are only <\/i>found in Madagascar. They are not even primates, which lemurs (and monkeys and apes, including us) are \u2013 although they are the\u00a0primates\u2019 closest evolutionary cousins.<\/p>\nAnd guess what? They don\u2019t fly either. They glide impressively through the trees using large membranes of skin between their front and hind limbs \u2013 not wings.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-1130384417-c635a0a.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Whale shark<\/a> (Rhincodon typus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nNames can often lead to confusion when they are given in relation to a physical characteristic, such as size, rather than in reference to a familial relationship. This is true of the whale shark<\/a>, which is not a whale, just as big as some. This species of shark (and therefore a fish) has been known to grow up to 18.8 m in length, comparable to a sperm whale, and is the largest non-cetacean (the whale and dolphin group)<\/a> animal in the world. As well as size, it is similar to whales in another regard, being a filter feeder in a manner similar to baleen whales.<\/p>\nLearn more about this fascinating fish in our whale shark guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Whale sharks, the world\u2019s largest fish, are native to tropical seas around the world. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nGuinea pig (Cavia porcellus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nBeing neither from Guinea nor a pig, it is hard to understand how these little rodents got their misleading name. One theory is that they were brought to England via Guinea, leading people to believe that they were from there. Another is that they were sold for the price of a guinea \u2013 although this does not check out, as the name predates the use of the coin. As for pig, there isn\u2019t really even a physical resemblance for it to be attributed to, although the noises they make are perhaps a little similar?<\/p>\n
It is not just the English that found some likeness to pigs, however, with reference being made in multiple languages. In German, they are known as Meerschweinchen<\/i> (\u201clittle sea pig\u201d) and in Polish \u015bwinka morska<\/i> (\u201csea pig\u201d).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A guinea pig. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n More related content:<\/p>\n
- Extinct parrot from Rio<\/em> movie makes a comeback in Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
- Can animals catch yawns off humans?<\/a><\/li>\n
- 12 animals named after celebrities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Bearcat (Arctictis binturong<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nAs you can probably guess, this animal is not a bear, nor a cat, nor closely related to either. Like the red panda, it is out there on its own, being the only living species in its genus Arctictis<\/i>. The cat-like face and bear-like body do perhaps belie the name, however. Commonly also known as Binturongs, these South and Southeast Asian mammals are only one of two carnivores to have a prehensile tail \u2013 a tail that has evolved to be able to grasp or hold objects (the other being the honey bear).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Bearcat (Arctictis binturong) \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFlying fox (Pteropus<\/i> genus) <\/span><\/h3>\nIt is quite easy to see how this ginger-haired bat acquired its misleading name. Its face and colouring really are quite reminiscent of a fox. The massive wings, however, less so.<\/p>\n
There are actually about 60 species in this \u2018megabat\u2019 genus, of varying size. The largest is the aptly named \u2018large flying fox\u2019, which can have a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres, the longest of any bat species! Flying foxes are fruit eaters, and eat a lot of it, consuming as much as 35% of their body weight daily.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Lyle\u2019s flying fox Pteropus lylei Male Bat Sleeps on the tree. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWant to find out more? Check out BatFest: what it is, when it\u2019s on, and how to take part<\/a>.<\/p> Killer whales (Orcinus orca<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\nOkay, this one is not nearly so misleading as some, as killer whales (or orcas) are really very closely related to whales, and belong to the same order, Cetacea. <\/i>But technically, <\/i>they are dolphins, not whales, being the largest members of the Delphinidae <\/i>family. The shape and size do give this relationship away somewhat, as orcas have more physical resemblance to other dolphins than they do whales, with their beak-shaped mouths and compact, curved bodies. Although big for dolphins, they are also on the smaller end of the scale when compared to whales. The largest whale, the blue whale, can grow to nearly 30 metres in length, for example, making even the largest orca of 7 metres look puny in comparison!<\/p>\n- Whales, dolphins and porpoises of the UK guide: which species to look out for, how to identify, and where to see them<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Photo taken in Tofino, Canada<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFlying lemur<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\nOne big clue that this name is not quite trustworthy is that flying lemurs<\/a> are not<\/i> found on the island of Madagascar. As you may or may not know, true lemurs are only <\/i>found in Madagascar. They are not even primates, which lemurs (and monkeys and apes, including us) are \u2013 although they are the\u00a0primates\u2019 closest evolutionary cousins.<\/p>\nAnd guess what? They don\u2019t fly either. They glide impressively through the trees using large membranes of skin between their front and hind limbs \u2013 not wings.<\/p>\n
Learn more about this fascinating fish in our whale shark guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Being neither from Guinea nor a pig, it is hard to understand how these little rodents got their misleading name. One theory is that they were brought to England via Guinea, leading people to believe that they were from there. Another is that they were sold for the price of a guinea \u2013 although this does not check out, as the name predates the use of the coin. As for pig, there isn\u2019t really even a physical resemblance for it to be attributed to, although the noises they make are perhaps a little similar?<\/p>\n It is not just the English that found some likeness to pigs, however, with reference being made in multiple languages. In German, they are known as Meerschweinchen<\/i> (\u201clittle sea pig\u201d) and in Polish \u015bwinka morska<\/i> (\u201csea pig\u201d).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n More related content:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> As you can probably guess, this animal is not a bear, nor a cat, nor closely related to either. Like the red panda, it is out there on its own, being the only living species in its genus Arctictis<\/i>. The cat-like face and bear-like body do perhaps belie the name, however. Commonly also known as Binturongs, these South and Southeast Asian mammals are only one of two carnivores to have a prehensile tail \u2013 a tail that has evolved to be able to grasp or hold objects (the other being the honey bear).<\/p>\n It is quite easy to see how this ginger-haired bat acquired its misleading name. Its face and colouring really are quite reminiscent of a fox. The massive wings, however, less so.<\/p>\n There are actually about 60 species in this \u2018megabat\u2019 genus, of varying size. The largest is the aptly named \u2018large flying fox\u2019, which can have a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres, the longest of any bat species! Flying foxes are fruit eaters, and eat a lot of it, consuming as much as 35% of their body weight daily.<\/p>\n Want to find out more? Check out BatFest: what it is, when it\u2019s on, and how to take part<\/a>.<\/p> Okay, this one is not nearly so misleading as some, as killer whales (or orcas) are really very closely related to whales, and belong to the same order, Cetacea. <\/i>But technically, <\/i>they are dolphins, not whales, being the largest members of the Delphinidae <\/i>family. The shape and size do give this relationship away somewhat, as orcas have more physical resemblance to other dolphins than they do whales, with their beak-shaped mouths and compact, curved bodies. Although big for dolphins, they are also on the smaller end of the scale when compared to whales. The largest whale, the blue whale, can grow to nearly 30 metres in length, for example, making even the largest orca of 7 metres look puny in comparison!<\/p>\n One big clue that this name is not quite trustworthy is that flying lemurs<\/a> are not<\/i> found on the island of Madagascar. As you may or may not know, true lemurs are only <\/i>found in Madagascar. They are not even primates, which lemurs (and monkeys and apes, including us) are \u2013 although they are the\u00a0primates\u2019 closest evolutionary cousins.<\/p>\n And guess what? They don\u2019t fly either. They glide impressively through the trees using large membranes of skin between their front and hind limbs \u2013 not wings.<\/p>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-AE5216-001-38f0941.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-1319755851-e2fbe0b.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Bearcat (Arctictis binturong<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-526012562-eea18df.jpg?quality=90&resize=534%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Flying fox (Pteropus<\/i> genus) <\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-1301938140-d2cdf87.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Killer whales (Orcinus orca<\/i>)<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-1363230757-82538f1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C349"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Flying lemur<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-159408073-d8e1e2b.jpg?quality=90&resize=579%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>