I Like Lemurs & Lemurs Like Me, vol. 1

The word “lemur” derives from the Latin word, lemures—meaning specters or spirits of the dead—and was given to these prosimians on account of the animals’ ghostly faces and nocturnal habits.

The evolution of this Latin word has its own haunted history. According to ancient mythology, the city of Rome was founded by twin brothers Romulus and Remus, who had been suckled by a she-wolf as babies. Arguing over who should rule the new city, Romulus murdered Remus and named the city after himself. But the ghost of the fallen brother haunted Rome from then on. Every May, citizens of Rome would hold a festival—first called Remuria, but later corrupted to Lemuria—to expiate the ghost of Remus and other ancestral spirits. From this tradition grew the word lemures, one of several Latin words—including larva, the shell of a ghost—used to refer to various forms of phantom.

“Lemuria” also is the name of a mythological sunken super-continent, akin to Atlantis, once believed to lie in the Indian Ocean—coincidentally near the real lemur’s native home.

—Alex Hawes and Sue Zwicker, Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Ani-Mystic Case Study #5 and #6

Nick-Name: SWANGSTU
Primary Animal: MUSK OX
Traits: Muskoxen are native to the Arctic areas of Canada, Greenland and Alaska. It is thought that the muskox was able to survive the last Ice Age (Wisconsin glaciation) by finding ice free areas away from prehistoric peoples. The Norwegian municipality of Dovre has a muskox in its coat-of-arms.
Secondary Critter: MOUNTAIN GORILLA

Nick-Name: BUDDY / CECIL
Primary Animal: SPIDER MONKEY
Traits: Disproportionately long, spindly limbs inspired this monkey's common name. Males tend to stick together for their whole life. Grooming is not as important to social interaction, due perhaps to a lack of thumbs. On the surface, the Spider Monkey appears simply goofy, but is, in fact, full of wisdom.
Secondary Critter: RIVER OTTER

Ani-Mystic Case Study #2, #3 and #4

After the overwhelming popularity of the original report, a couple more requests for ani-mystic consultations have been processed, including Dan's own profile...

Nick-Name: DAN
Primary Animal: RING-TAILED LEMUR
Traits: The Ring-tailed Lemur has a slender frame and their narrow face is white with black lozenge-shaped patches around the eyes. This species also has claws on the second toe of the hind limb specialized for grooming purposes.
Secondary Critter: FRUIT BAT (aka FLYING FOX), WALKING STICK

Nick-Name: BILLY
Primary Animal: POLAR BEAR
Traits: The Polar or Northern Bear is well-adapted to its environment and is at the top of the Arctic food chain. While imposing, they are known to be extremely goofy and playful, especially with it offspring.
Secondary Critter: ALBATROSS, DUNG BEETLE


Nick-Name: 'CHELLEY
Primary Animal: RED KANGAROO
Traits: The largest (and longest) marsupial, the Red Kangaroo is a vegetarian who craves dry, open spaces. They are unable to walk, but can jump as high as 28 feet in the air!
Secondary Critter: RACCOON, MANTIS

Ani-Mystic Case Study #1

I've been told that I possess a special power, not like those of a real super-hero, but more akin to those "medical professionals" (so-called psychics, dream theorists and life coaches) who prey on wealthy Upper East Side New Yorkers. It's a gift. Anyway, I see animals in people. Physical, spiritual or behavioral traits. Most people harbor a few characteristics from more than one animal, like a mammal and bird or insect and a fish or reptile. First rule though: recipients must erase all human-imposed stereotypes of animals from their heads. Being told that you're part Dung Beetle doesn't mean you like rolling around feces. Well, not exactly. I mean, there's not necessarily anything wrong with playing with poop.

Anyway, first case study (nickname used for semi-anonymity): TINY
Her primary animal is the Sea Otter. DR. Edna Fisher says, "the most common resting position is with the head up and the chin resting on the chest; the small paws or hands folded across the chest." I've spotted Tiny in this favored position many times while watching Entertainment Tonight. Sea Otters are built for life at sea and don't fare well in states like Missouri or Kansas. Her secondary animals include the Slow Loris (she moves a bit sloooow) and Zebra Swallowtail butterfly from Tennessee (she's per-ty).