The fat-tailed dwarf lemur hibernates during the dry season in Madagascar.
This small nocturnal primate, Cheirogaleus medius, is endemic to Madagascar, meaning it occurs naturally nowhere else. Its hibernation is an adaptation to seasonal drought: during the wet season, fruits, flowers, nectar and other foods are more plentiful, but dry-season resources become scarce.
The lemur usually shelters in a tree hollow while dormant. Its body enters prolonged torpor, with sharply reduced metabolism, heart rate and body temperature. It periodically rewarms in brief interbout-arousal episodes rather than remaining continuously inactive.
A common mix-up is confusing this animal with Australian marsupials or South American rodents that also hibernate or enter torpor. The fat-tailed dwarf lemur is especially notable because it is the only primate known to hibernate for such an extended period.