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The name ''lemur'' is derived from the [[Latin]] term ''[[lemures]]'',{{Sfn|Garbutt|2007|pp=85–86}} which refers to specters or ghosts that were [[exorcism|exorcised]] during the [[Lemuria (festival)|Lemuria festival]] of ancient Rome.{{R|2008Lux}}{{R|ley196608}} Linnaeus was familiar with the works of [[Virgil]] and [[Ovid]], both of whom mentioned ''lemures.'' Seeing an analogy that fit with his naming scheme, he adapted the term "lemur" for these nocturnal primates.{{Sfn|Blunt|Stearn|2002|p=252}}
It was noted in 2012 that many sources had commonly and falsely assumed that Linnaeus was referring to the ghost-like appearance, [[Tapetum lucidum|reflective eyes]], and ghostly cries of Madagascar's lemurs when he selected the name.{{R|2012Dunkel_et_al}} Up until then, it had also been speculated that Linnaeus may also have known that some [[Malagasy peoples|Malagasy people]] believed that lemurs were the [[Malagasy mythology|souls of their ancestors]].{{Sfn|Nield|2007|p=41}} However, both claims were discredited since according to Linnaeus' own explanation, the term ''lemur'' was selected because of the [[nocturnal animals|nocturnal]] activity and slow movements of the
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