The nocturnal African primate with large eyes, a long tail, and a crying call is the bushbaby, also called a galago. Bushbabies are small prosimian primates found across sub-Saharan Africa, where they live in woodland, savanna, and forest habitats.
Their oversized eyes improve vision in darkness, while powerful hind legs allow them to leap between branches. The long tail acts as a balancing aid during these jumps. Their ears can also fold and move independently, helping them detect insects and other sounds at night.
The name “bushbaby” may refer either to the animal’s baby-like appearance or to its plaintive cries. Different galago species produce a range of calls for alarm, contact, and gathering. Bushbabies are sometimes confused with tarsiers or lorises, but tarsiers are native to Southeast Asia and lorises are mainly Asian. “Bushbaby” is a common name for several galago species rather than one single species.