Euoticus Galago Galagoides Otolemur Paragalago Sciurocheirus Galagos /ɡəˈleɪɡoʊz/, also known as bush babies or nagapies (meaning "night monkeys" in Afrikaans[2]), are small nocturnal[3] primates native to continental, sub-Sahara Africa, and make up the family Galagidae (also sometimes called Galagonidae).

[citation needed] In both variety and abundance, the bush babies are the most successful strepsirrhine primates in Africa, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.

[4] The 'dwarf' galagids recently grouped under the genus Galagoides have been found, based on genetic data, and supported by analysis of vocalisations and morphology, to actually consist of two clades, which are not sister taxa, in eastern and western/central Africa (separated by the rift valley).

[3] They have nails on most of their digits, except for the second toe of the hind foot, which bears a grooming claw.

Their diet is a mixture of insects and other small animals, fruit, and tree gums.

[8] They have pectinate (comb-like) incisors called toothcombs, and the dental formula: 2.1.3.32.1.3.3 They are active at night.

After a gestation period of 110–133 days, young galagos are born with half-closed eyes and are initially unable to move about independently.

[8] Bush-babies are sometimes kept as pets, although this is not advised because, like many other nonhuman primates, they are a likely sources of diseases that can cross species barriers.

[12] This is thought to be due to elastic energy storage in tendons of the lower leg, allowing far greater jumps than would otherwise be possible for an animal of their size.

[12] In mid-flight, they tuck their arms and legs close to the body; they bring them out at the last second to grab a branch.

The tail, which is longer than the length of the head and body combined, assists the legs in powering the jumps.

[15] The name “bush baby” also refers to a myth that is used to scare children to stay indoors at night.

Endangerment of the species in sub-Saharan Africa has made this claim difficult to verify.