The fat-tailed dwarf lemur stores much of its pre-hibernation fat in its tail.
The species’ common name describes a real seasonal adaptation. Before the dry season, it gorges during Madagascar’s wetter months, converting surplus energy into white adipose tissue concentrated in the tail. That reserve becomes an energy supply during prolonged torpor.
The tail is not merely ornamental or a balance aid. As fat accumulates, it becomes visibly thicker and can hold a remarkable proportion of the animal’s total mass. The lemur may more than double its body weight before hibernation, then gradually consume those reserves while food is scarce.
Readers sometimes confuse fat storage with the body’s usual distribution of fat or assume that the cheeks, feet or ears are specialized storage sites. Those body parts are not the defining reserve in this species. The tail is the feature that gives the fat-tailed dwarf lemur its name and supports its unusual survival strategy.