Teazel’s Twins: Meet Artemisia and Sweet William
Dr. Julie Ter Beest, the Duke Lemur Center’s Supervising Veterinarian, holding infants Artemisia and Sweet William during an infant wellness exam. Photo by Jodi S.
Nocturnal baby season continues at the Duke Lemur Center! On May 31, 2024, five-year-old gray mouse lemur Teazel gave birth to twins. This is Teazel’s second time as a mother, after giving birth to singleton Lunaria in 2023. Teazel had one girl, Artemisia, and one boy, Sweet William, both of whom were born at healthy weights.
Both infants are named after flowers! Artemisia is a genus of plants within the daisy family that includes mugwort, wormwood, and sagebrush. Sweet William is a species of flowering plant popular in ornamental gardens.
Eighteen-day-old Artemisia sits inside of small plastic container for an infant weighing. Photo by Jodi S.
Dr. Brendan Johnson, one of the DLC’s veterinarians, holding five-day-old Sweet William during one of his first infant wellness exams. Photo by Jodi S.
Azalea’s Infants: Meet Peanut and Macadamia
Peanut and Macadamia, eight days old. Photo by David Haring.
Just a few days later, on June 4, 2024, two-year-old gray mouse lemur Azalea gave birth! Azalea is a first-time mother. The girl, Peanut, was born at 7.2 grams, and her brother, Macadamia, was born just slightly larger at 7.3 grams. For comparison, their namesake macadamia nut weighs an estimated 2.6 grams, meaning each infant was born about the size of three nuts!
Both moms are doing a great job with their twins!
Azalea’s male infant, Macadamia, is weighed during his first infant wellness exam. Photo by Jodi S.
Azalea’s female infant, Peanut, is held during a wellness exam at eight days old. Photo by David Haring.
