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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: "Cross Dressing" Lemurs Appear Male to Avoid Conflict


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Male and female red-fronted lemurs—with red and white heads, respectively—drink from a pool in Madagascar in an undated photo.

Young female red-fronted lemurs adopt male coloration to avoid conflict with their aggressive female groupmates, a study released in July 2008 found.

The young females grow into their true colors once they are old enough to withstand hostility from their elders, experts say.

Photograph by Frans Lanting/National Geographic Image Collection