List of lemur species
Encyclopedia
Lemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
s are strepsirrhine
Strepsirrhini
The clade Strepsirrhini is one of the two suborders of primates. Madagascar's only non-human primates are strepsirrhines, and others can be found in southeast Asia and Africa...
primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s, all species of which are endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. They include the smallest primate in the world, Madame Berthe's mouse lemur
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Madame Berthe's mouse lemur or Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest of the mouse lemurs and the smallest primate in the world; the average body length is and seasonal weight is around...
, which weighs 30 grams (1.1 oz), and range up to the size of the indri
Indri
The indri , also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a diurnal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar.- Etymology :...
, which can weigh as much as 9.5 kilograms (20.9 lb). However, recently extinct species grew much larger. As of 2010, five families
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, 15 genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, and 101 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of lemur
Lemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
are formally recognized. Of the 101 species and subspecies, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
eight as Critically Endangered, 18 as Endangered, 15 as Vulnerable, four as Near Threatened, eight as Least Concern, 41 as Data Deficient, and seven have yet to be evaluated. From 2000 through 2008, 39 new species were described and nine other taxa resurrected.
The number of lemur species is likely to continue growing in the coming years, as field studies, cytogenetic
Cytogenetics
Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the cell, especially the chromosomes. It includes routine analysis of G-Banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescent in situ...
and molecular genetic
Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
research continues. There is not complete agreement over the latest revisions to lemur taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, with some experts preferring an estimated 50 lemur species. The debates are likely to continue, as some scholars label the explosive growth of species numbers as taxonomic inflation
Taxonomic inflation
Taxonomic inflation is a pejorative term for what is perceived to be an excessive increase in the number of recognised taxa in a given context, due not to the discovery of new taxa but rather to putatively arbitrary changes to how taxa are delineated....
. In many cases, classifications will ultimately depend upon which species concept is used. In the case of the lemurs of Madagascar, which have suffered extensively from deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation as the name implies, describes the emergence of discontinuities in an organism's preferred environment , causing population fragmentation...
, nearly 25% of all species are either Endangered or Critically Endangered, most have yet to be extensively studied, and nearly all populations are in decline. For these reasons, taxonomists
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
and conservationist
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
s favor splitting them into separate species to develop an effective strategy for the conservation of the full range of lemur diversity. Implicitly, this means that full species status will help grant genetically distinct populations added environmental protection.
At least 17 species and eight genera are believed to have become extinct
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
in the 2,000 years since humans first arrived in Madagascar. All known extinct species were large, ranging in weight from 10 to 200 kg (22 to 440.9 lb). The largest known subfossil lemur
Subfossil lemur
Subfossil lemurs are lemurs from Madagascar that are represented by recent remains dating from nearly 26,000 years ago to approximately 560 years ago. They include both living and extinct species, although the term more frequently refers to the extinct giant lemurs...
was Archaeoindris fontoynonti, a giant sloth lemur
Palaeopropithecinae
The sloth lemurs is an extinct clade of lemurs that includes four genera. Despite their common names, members of Palaeopropithecidae were not closely related to sloths but were closely related to the other lemur species....
, which weighed more than a modern female gorilla
Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
. The extinction of the largest lemurs is often attributed to predation
Predation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
by humans and possibly habitat destruction
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
. Since all extinct lemurs were not only large (and thus ideal prey species), but also slow-moving (and thus more vulnerable to human predation), their presumably slow-reproducing and low-density populations were least likely to survive the introduction of humans. Gradual changes in climate have also been blamed, and may have played a minor role; however since the largest lemurs also survived the climatic changes from previous ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
s and only disappeared following the arrival of humans, it is unlikely that climatic change was largely responsible.
There is strong evidence of extensive declines in extant populations since the introductions of humans, particularly among the larger and more specialized lemurs. As long as habitats continue to shrink, degrade and fragment, extinctions are likely to continue.
Taxonomic classification
Lemurs are classified under eight families, three of which are extinct:
- Family: †Archaeolemuridae : monkey lemurs
- Genus: †ArchaeolemurArchaeolemurArchaeolemur is an extinct genus of lemurs that includes two species, Archaeolemur edwardsi and A. majori.The genus was widespread throughout Madagascar through much of the Holocene epoch, and its remains are often abundant at fossil sites across the island. The wide geographical and temporal range...
(2 extinct species) - Genus: †HadropithecusHadropithecusHadropithecus is a medium-sized, extinct genus of lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that includes a single species, Hadropithecus stenognathus. Due to its rarity and lack of sufficient skeletal remains, it is one of the least understood of the extinct lemurs...
(1 extinct species)
- Genus: †Archaeolemur
- Family: CheirogaleidaeCheirogaleidaeCheirogaleidae is the family of strepsirrhine primates that contains the various dwarf and mouse lemurs. Like all other lemurs, cheirogaleids live exclusively on the island of Madagascar.-Characteristics:...
- Genus: Allocebus: hairy-eared dwarf lemur (1 extant species)
- Genus: Cheirogaleus: dwarf lemurs (5 extant species)
- Genus: Microcebus: mouse lemurs (18 extant species)
- Genus: Mirza: giant mouse lemurs (2 extant species)
- Genus: Phaner: fork-marked lemurs (4 extant species)
- Family: Daubentoniidae: aye-aye
- Genus: Daubentonia (1 extant species, 1 extinct species)
- Family: IndriidaeIndriidaeThe Indriidae are a family of strepsirrhine primates. They are medium to large sized lemurs with only four teeth in the toothcomb instead of the usual six...
- Genus: Avahi: woolly lemurs (9 extant species)
- Genus: IndriIndriThe indri , also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a diurnal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar.- Etymology :...
: indri (1 extant species) - Genus: Propithecus: sifakas (9 extant species)
- Family: LemuridaeLemuridaeLemuridae is a family of prosimian primates native to Madagascar, and one of five families commonly known as lemurs. These animals were thought to be the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes, but this is no longer considered correct...
- Genus: Eulemur: true lemurs (12 extant species)
- Genus: Hapalemur: bamboo lemurs (5 extant species, 3 extant subspecies)
- Genus: LemurRing-tailed LemurThe ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
: ring-tailed lemur (1 extant species) - Genus: †PachylemurPachylemurPachylemur is an extinct genus of lemur most closely related to the ruffed lemurs . Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from subfossil remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar...
(2 extinct species) - Genus: Prolemur: greater bamboo lemur (1 extant species)
- Genus: Varecia: ruffed lemurs (2 extant species, 3 extant subspecies)
- Family: Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
- Genus: Lepilemur (26 extant species)
- Family: †Megaladapidae: koala lemurs
- Genus: †MegaladapisMegaladapisKoala lemurs, genus Megaladapis, belong to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three extinct species of lemurs that once inhabited the island of Madagascar. The largest measured between in length.-Appearance and habits:...
(3 extinct species)
- Genus: †Megaladapis
- Family: †Palaeopropithecidae: sloth lemurs
- Genus: †ArchaeoindrisArchaeoindrisArchaeoindris fontoynonti is an extinct species of Malagasy lemur that was the largest primate to evolve on Madagascar. It weighed about and measured around 1.5m in height, more than a silverback gorilla. Archaeoindris is one of eight known members of the Palaeopropithecinae subfamily...
(1 extinct species) - Genus: †BabakotiaBabakotiaBabakotia is a medium-sized, extinct genus of lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that contains a single species, Babakotia radofilai. Together with Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Mesopropithecus, it forms the family Palaeopropithecidae, commonly known as the sloth lemurs...
(1 extinct species) - Genus: †MesopropithecusMesopropithecusMesopropithecus is an extinct genus of small to medium-sized lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that includes three species, M. dolichobrachion, M. globiceps, and M. pithecoides. Together with Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Babakotia, it is part of the sloth...
(3 extinct species) - Genus: †Palaeopropithecus (3 extinct species)
- Genus: †Archaeoindris
The placement of lemurs within the order Strepsirrhini is currently under debate, although both sides agree upon the same phylogenetic tree
Phylogenetic tree
A phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities based upon similarities and differences in their physical and/or genetic characteristics...
. The following table demonstrates the differences between the two taxonomies.
| 3 infraorders, 2 superfamilies | 1 infraorder, 2 superfamilies |
|---|---|
|
Primate A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment... s
|
Key
| Scientific name | Latin binomial name, or Latin name, of the species |
| Common name | Common name of the species, per Wilson, et al. Mammal Species of the World (2005) or Mittermeier, et al. "Lemur Diversity in Madagascar" (2008) |
| Family | Family within the Suborder Strepsirrhini Strepsirrhini The clade Strepsirrhini is one of the two suborders of primates. Madagascar's only non-human primates are strepsirrhines, and others can be found in southeast Asia and Africa... to which the species belongs |
| Classified | Date in which the species was formally described and classified, as well as the binomial authority on the species |
| Average size | Average size of adult members of the species, in metric Metric system The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world... and English weight units |
| Estimated size | Estimated Average size of adult members of the extinct species |
| Conservation status | Conservation status of the species, per IUCN as of 2008 |
| Extinction date | Year of extinction or estimated date range for subfossil Subfossil Subfossil refers to remains whose fossilization process is not complete, either for lack of time or because the conditions in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization.... species, in BCE/CE Common Era Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era... |
Extant species
All lemurs belong to the suborder StrepsirrhiniStrepsirrhini
The clade Strepsirrhini is one of the two suborders of primates. Madagascar's only non-human primates are strepsirrhines, and others can be found in southeast Asia and Africa...
within the order Primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s. The 101 extant species and subspecies are divided among 5 families and 15 genera. They range in weight from 30 g (1.1 oz) (Madame Berthe's mouse lemur
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Madame Berthe's mouse lemur or Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest of the mouse lemurs and the smallest primate in the world; the average body length is and seasonal weight is around...
) to as much as 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) (indri
Indri
The indri , also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a diurnal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar.- Etymology :...
). Most are highly arboreal
Arboreal locomotion
Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In every habitat in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may only scale trees occasionally, while others are exclusively arboreal. These habitats pose numerous mechanical challenges to animals...
and activity patterns range widely from nocturnal to diurnal to cathemeral
Cathemeral
A cathemeral organism is one that has sporadic and random intervals of activity during the day or night in which food is acquired, socializing with other organisms occurs, and any other activities necessary for livelihood are performed...
. Having diversified over millions of years to fill every ecological niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
, diets also vary widely, though fruit, leaves, and insects make up the majority of the diet for most species.
Family: Cheirogaleidae
Family Cheirogaleidae consists of the mouse lemurMouse lemur
The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus Microcebus. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar.Mouse lemurs have a combined head, body and tail length of less than , making them the smallest primates ; however, their weight fluctuates in response to daylight duration.Mouse...
s (smallest of all primates), the dwarf lemur
Dwarf lemur
The dwarf lemurs are the lemurs of the genus Cheirogaleus. All of the species in this genus, like all other lemurs, are native to Madagascar.- Description :...
s, and the fork-marked lemurs and their allies. There are 30 extant species.
.png)
| Scientific name | Common name | Classified | Average size | Conservation status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allocebus trichotis | Hairy-eared dwarf lemur Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur The hairy-eared dwarf lemur , or hairy-eared mouse lemur, is a nocturnal lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is the only member of the genus Allocebus. This species is critically endangered and the population is estimated at 100-1000 individuals. They all live a single location in the northeastern part... |
1875, Günther | |||
| Cheirogaleus crossleyi | Furry-eared dwarf lemur Furry-eared Dwarf Lemur The furry-eared dwarf lemur , or Crossley's dwarf lemur, only found on the island of Madagascar, as with all other lemurs. It has a pelage coloration that is red-brown dorsally and gray ventrally. The eye-rings of this species are blackish and the ears are black inside and out. The dental formula... |
1870, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Cheirogaleus major | Greater dwarf lemur Greater dwarf lemur The greater dwarf lemur , or the Geoffroy's dwarf lemur, is a lemur that is widely distributed over the primary and secondary forests near the eastern coast of Madagascar.... |
1812, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Cheirogaleus medius | Fat-tailed dwarf lemur Fat-tailed dwarf lemur The fat-tailed dwarf lemur , also known as the lesser dwarf lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, or spiny forest dwarf lemur, is one of the smallest primates. It is endemic to Madagascar.... |
1812, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Cheirogaleus minusculus | Lesser iron-gray dwarf lemur Lesser Iron-gray Dwarf Lemur The lesser iron-gray dwarf lemur , or large iron-gray dwarf lemur, is a small nocturnal lemur endemic to Madagascar.This species is only known from Ambositra.... |
2000, Groves Colin Groves Colin Peter Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Born in England on 24 June 1942, Colin Groves completed a Bachelor of Science at University College London in 1963, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal Free Hospital School of... |
unknown | ||
| Cheirogaleus sibreei | Sibree's dwarf lemur Sibree's Dwarf Lemur Sibree's dwarf lemur is a small nocturnal lemur endemic to Madagascar.The name of this dwarf lemur commemorates the English missionary and naturalist James Sibree .... |
1896, Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major was a Swiss zoologist and vertebrate palaeontologist.Major was born in Glasgow and studied at Basel and Zurich Universities in Switzerland and later Göttingen in Germany... |
unknown | ||
| Microcebus berthae | Madame Berthe's mouse lemur Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur Madame Berthe's mouse lemur or Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest of the mouse lemurs and the smallest primate in the world; the average body length is and seasonal weight is around... |
2000, Rasoloarison et al. | |||
| Microcebus bongolavensis | Bongolava mouse lemur Bongolava mouse lemur The Bongolava mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur endemic to Madagascar. It lives in western deciduous forest within a limited range, including Bongolava Forest and Ambodimahabibo Forest between the Sofia River and the Mahajamba River... |
2007, Olivieri et al. | |||
| Microcebus danfossi | Danfoss' mouse lemur Danfoss' Mouse Lemur Danfoss' mouse lemur , or Ambarijeby mouse lemur, is a species of mouse lemur endemic to Madagascar. It lives in western deciduous forest within a limited range between the Sofia River and the Maevarano River... |
2007, Olivieri et al. | |||
| Microcebus griseorufus | Reddish-gray mouse lemur Reddish-gray Mouse Lemur The reddish-gray mouse lemur also known as the gray-brown mouse lemur or rufous-gray mouse lemur, is found in Western Madagascar in the region around Beza Mahafaly Reserve, north to Lamboharana.... |
1910, Kollman | |||
| Microcebus jollyae | Jolly's mouse lemur Jolly's Mouse Lemur Jolly's mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur from Mananjary and Kianjavato in Madagascar.The species is named in honor of primatologist Alison Jolly.... |
2006, Louis et al. | |||
| Microcebus lehilahytsara | Goodman's mouse lemur Goodman's Mouse Lemur Goodman's mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur from Andasibe in eastern Madagascar. It is thought to have diverged from other mouse lemurs in the region about 2 million years ago.... |
2005, Roos and Kappeler | |||
| Microcebus macarthurii | MacArthur's mouse lemur MacArthur's Mouse Lemur MacArthur's mouse lemur , or Anjiahely mouse lemur, is a species of mouse lemur known only from an Inter-River-System in the eastern Makira Natural Park in Madagascar.... |
2008, Radespiel et al. | unknown | ||
| Microcebus mamiratra | Claire's mouse lemur Claire's Mouse Lemur Claire's mouse lemur , or Nosy Be mouse lemur, is a newly described species of lemur from the genus of the mouse lemurs . It lives on the island Nosy Bé in the Antsiranana province of Madagascar, and on the mainland near the village of Manehoka, including Lokobe Reserve... |
2006, Andriantompohavana et al. | |||
| Microcebus mittermeieri | Mittermeier's mouse lemur Mittermeier's Mouse Lemur Mittermeier's mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur known only from Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve in Madagascar.... |
2006, Louis et al. | |||
| Microcebus murinus | Gray mouse lemur Gray Mouse Lemur The gray mouse lemur , or lesser mouse lemur, is a small lemur, a type of strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing , it is the largest of the mouse lemurs , a group which include the smallest primates in the world... |
1777, Miller John Frederick Miller John Frederick Miller was an English illustrator, mainly of botanical subjects.Miller was the son of the artist Johann Sebastian Müller . Miller, along with his brother James, produced paintings from the sketches made by Sydney Parkinson on James Cook's first voyage... |
|||
| Microcebus myoxinus | Pygmy mouse lemur | 1852, Peters Wilhelm Peters Wilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters was a German naturalist and explorer.He was assistant to Johannes Peter Müller and later curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. In September 1842 he travelled to Mozambique via Angola. He returned to Berlin with an enormous collection of natural history specimens... |
|||
| Microcebus ravelobensis | Golden-brown mouse lemur | 1998, Zimmerman et al. | |||
| Microcebus rufus | Brown mouse lemur | 1834, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Microcebus sambiranensis | Sambirano mouse lemur Sambirano Mouse Lemur The Sambirano mouse lemur is a small, recently discovered primate, and like the other mouse lemurs can only be found on the island of Madagascar. The dorsal side is both cinnamon and rufous-cinnamon, and is grey ventrally... |
2000, Rasoloarison et al. | |||
| Microcebus simmonsi | Simmons' mouse lemur Simmons' Mouse Lemur Simmons' mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur known only from Betampona Special Reserve and Zahamena National Park in Madagascar.... |
2006, Louis et al. | |||
| Microcebus tavaratra | Northern rufous mouse lemur Northern Rufous Mouse Lemur The northern rufous mouse lemur , northern brown mouse lemur, or Tavaratra mouse lemur is found in North-western Madagascar in Ankarana Reserve.... |
2000, Rasoloarison et al. | |||
| Microcebus arnholdi | Arnhold's mouse lemur Arnhold's Mouse Lemur Arnhold's mouse lemur or Montagne d’Ambre mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur endemic to Madagascar. Its holotype was first collected on 27 November 2005, and was first described in 2008. According to genetic tests, it is genetically distinct from its closest sister taxa, the Sambirano mouse... |
2008, E. Lewis, Jr. et al. | |||
| Microcebus margotmarshae | Margot Marsh's mouse lemur Margot Marsh's Mouse Lemur Margot Marsh's mouse lemur or the Antafondro mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur endemic to Madagascar. Its holotype was first collected on 21 May 2006, proposed in 2006 by Andriantompohavana et al., and was formally described in 2008 by E... |
2006, Andriantompohavana et al. | |||
| Mirza coquereli | Coquerel's giant mouse lemur | 1867, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Mirza zaza | Northern giant mouse lemur Northern Giant Mouse Lemur The northern giant mouse lemur , or northern dwarf lemur, was discovered to be a species in 2005 by Kappeler et al. from the German primates centre and the University of Göttingen. Before, both populations of giant mouse lemurs were believed to belong to one species. The northern giant mouse lemurs... |
2005, Kappeler & Roos | |||
| Phaner electromontis | Amber Mountain fork-marked lemur | 1991, Groves Colin Groves Colin Peter Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Born in England on 24 June 1942, Colin Groves completed a Bachelor of Science at University College London in 1963, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal Free Hospital School of... and Tattersall Ian Tattersall Ian Tattersall is a paleoanthropologist and a curator at the American Museum of Natural History. Tattersall received his PhD from Yale University in 1971. In addition to human evolution, he has worked extensively with lemurs. He is working with The Templeton Foundation.-Selected publications:* The... |
|||
| Phaner furcifer | Masoala fork-marked lemur | 1839, Blainville Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville was a French zoologist and anatomist.Blainville was born at Arques, near Dieppe. In about 1796 he went to Paris to study painting, but he ultimately devoted himself to natural history, and attracted the attention of Georges Cuvier, for whom he occasionally... |
|||
| Phaner pallescens | Pale fork-marked lemur | 1991, Groves Colin Groves Colin Peter Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Born in England on 24 June 1942, Colin Groves completed a Bachelor of Science at University College London in 1963, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal Free Hospital School of... and Tattersall Ian Tattersall Ian Tattersall is a paleoanthropologist and a curator at the American Museum of Natural History. Tattersall received his PhD from Yale University in 1971. In addition to human evolution, he has worked extensively with lemurs. He is working with The Templeton Foundation.-Selected publications:* The... |
|||
| Phaner parienti | Pariente's fork-marked lemur | 1991, Groves Colin Groves Colin Peter Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Born in England on 24 June 1942, Colin Groves completed a Bachelor of Science at University College London in 1963, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal Free Hospital School of... and Tattersall Ian Tattersall Ian Tattersall is a paleoanthropologist and a curator at the American Museum of Natural History. Tattersall received his PhD from Yale University in 1971. In addition to human evolution, he has worked extensively with lemurs. He is working with The Templeton Foundation.-Selected publications:* The... |
|||
Family: Lemuridae
Family Lemuridae consists of the ring-tailed lemurRing-tailed Lemur
The ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
, the brown lemur
Brown lemur
True lemurs, also known as brown lemurs, are the lemurs in genus Eulemur. They are medium sized primates that live exclusively on Madagascar....
s, the bamboo lemur
Bamboo lemur
The bamboo or gentle lemurs are the lemurs in genus Hapalemur. They are medium sized primates that live exclusively on Madagascar...
s and the ruffed lemur
Ruffed lemur
The ruffed lemurs of the genus Varecia are strepsirrhine primates and the largest extant lemurs within the family Lemuridae. Like all living lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar...
s. There are 21 extant species and six subspecies.
| Scientific name | Common name | Classified | Average size | Conservation status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eulemur albifrons | White-fronted brown lemur | 1796, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Eulemur cinereiceps | Gray-headed lemur Gray-headed Lemur The gray-headed lemur , or gray-headed brown lemur, is a medium-sized primate, a cathemeral species of lemur in the Lemuridae family. Until a taxonomic revision in 2008, it was known as the white-collared brown lemur or white-collared lemur . It lives in south-eastern Madagascar... |
1890, Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... and Milne-Edwards Henri Milne-Edwards Henri Milne-Edwards was an eminent French zoologist.Henri Milne-Edwards was the 27th child of William Edwards, an English planter and militia colonel in Jamaica and Elisabeth Vaux, a French. He was born in Bruges, Belgium, where his parents had retired. At that time, Bruges was a part of the... |
|||
| Eulemur collaris | Collared brown lemur Collared Brown Lemur The collared brown lemur , also known as the red-collared brown lemur or red-collared lemur, is a medium-sized strepsirrhine primate and one of twelve species of brown lemur in the Lemuridae family. It is only found in south-eastern Madagascar. Like most species of lemur, it is arboreal, moving... |
1812, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Eulemur coronatus | Crowned lemur Crowned Lemur The crowned lemur is a lemur that is 31–36 cm long and weighs 2 kg. Its tail is about 42–51 cm long). The crowned lemur is endemic to the dry deciduous forests of the northern tip of Madagascar. It eats a diet of mostly flowers, fruits, and leaves... |
1842, Gray John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray .... |
|||
| Eulemur flavifrons | Blue-eyed black lemur | 1867, Gray John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray .... |
|||
| Eulemur fulvus | Common brown lemur Common Brown Lemur The common brown lemur , or brown lemur, is a species of lemur in the Lemuridae family. It is found in Madagascar and Mayotte.-Range:... |
1812, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Eulemur macaco | Black lemur Black Lemur The Black Lemur is a species of lemur from the family Lemuridae. Like all lemurs, it is endemic to Madagascar. Originally, the species was thought to have two subspecies, Eulemur macaco macaco and Eulemur macaco flavifrons, both of which were elevated to species status by Mittermeier et al. in... |
1766, Linnaeus Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology... |
|||
| Eulemur mongoz | Mongoose lemur Mongoose Lemur The mongoose lemur is a lemur ranging from 12 to 18 inches long plus a tail of 16 to 25 inches. The mongoose lemur lives in dry deciduous forests on the island of Madagascar as well as in the humid forests on the islands of the Comoros... |
1766, Linnaeus Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology... |
|||
| Eulemur rubriventer | Red-bellied lemur Red-bellied Lemur The Red-bellied Lemur is a medium sized prosimian with a luxuriant chestnut brown coat. This lemur is endemic to eastern Madagascan rainforests and is distinguished by patches of white skin below the eyes, giving rise to a "teardrop" effect, particularly conspicuous in the male.The species, first... |
1850, I. Geoffroy | |||
| Eulemur rufifrons | Red-fronted lemur Red-fronted Lemur The red-fronted lemur , also known as the red-fronted brown lemur or southern red-fronted brown lemur, is a species of lemur from Madagascar. Until 2001, it was considered a subspecies of the common brown lemur, E. fulvus. In 2001, E... |
1833, Bennett | |||
| Eulemur rufus | Red lemur Red Lemur The red lemur , also known as the rufous brown lemur or northern red-fronted lemur, is a species of lemur from Madagascar. Until 2001, the species E. rufus was considered a subspecies of the common brown lemur, E. fulvus, after which it was classified as its own species... |
1799, Audebert | |||
| Eulemur sanfordi | Sanford's brown lemur Sanford's Brown Lemur Sanford's brown lemur , or Sanford's lemur, is a species of prosimian primate in the Lemuridae family. The Sanford's brown lemur was previously considered a subspecies of the common brown lemur but as of 2005 many of the brown lemurs have been elevated to a full species status... |
1932, Archbold | |||
| Hapalemur alaotrensis | Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur | 1975, Rumpler | |||
| Hapalemur aureus | Golden bamboo lemur Golden Bamboo Lemur The Golden Bamboo Lemur or Golden Lemur is a medium sized bamboo lemur endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss. The population is declining with only about 1000 individuals... |
1987, Meier et al. | |||
| Hapalemur griseus gilberti | Beanamalao bamboo lemur | 2007, Rabarivola et al. | |||
| Hapalemur griseus griseus | Eastern lesser bamboo lemur | 1795, Link Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link was a German naturalist and botanist.Link was born at Hildesheim as a son of the minister August Heinrich Link , who taught him the love for nature through collection of 'natural objects'... |
|||
| Hapalemur griseus ranomafanensis | Ranomafana bamboo lemur | 2007, Rabarivola et al. | |||
| Hapalemur meridionalis | Southern lesser bamboo lemur Southern Lesser Bamboo Lemur The southern lesser bamboo lemur , also known as the southern bamboo lemur, rusty-gray bamboo lemur, and southern gentle lemur, is species of bamboo lemur endemic to southern Madagascar near Tôlanaro. It was originally proposed as a subspecies of the eastern lesser bamboo lemur and is of similar size... |
1987, Warter, et al. | |||
| Hapalemur occidentalis | Western lesser bamboo lemur Western Lesser Bamboo Lemur The Western Lesser Bamboo Lemur , also known as the Northern Bamboo Lemur and Western Gentle Lemur, is species of bamboo lemur endemic to Madagascar. The total length of this primate is 55–67 centimeters, more than half of which is tail, and average weight is just under 1 kilogram... |
1975, Rumpler | |||
| Lemur catta | Ring-tailed lemur Ring-tailed Lemur The ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar... |
1756, Linnaeus Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology... |
|||
| Prolemur simus | Greater bamboo lemur Greater Bamboo Lemur The Greater Bamboo Lemur , also known as the Broad-nosed Bamboo Lemur and the Broad-nosed Gentle Lemur, is the largest bamboo lemur, at over five pounds or nearly 2.5 kilograms. It has greyish brown fur and white ear tufts, and has a head-body length of around one and a half feet, or forty to... |
1871, Gray John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray .... |
|||
| Varecia rubra | Red ruffed lemur Red Ruffed Lemur The red ruffed lemur is one of two species in the genus Varecia, the ruffed lemurs; the other is the black-and-white ruffed lemur . Like all lemurs, it is native to Madagascar and occurs only in the rainforests of Masoala, in the northeast of the island... |
1812, É. Geoffroy Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories... |
|||
| Varecia variegata editorum | Southern black-and-white ruffed lemur Black-and-white ruffed lemur The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities... |
1953, Osman Hill | |||
| Varecia variegata subcincta | White-belted black-and-white ruffed lemur Black-and-white ruffed lemur The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities... |
1833, A. Smith | |||
| Varecia variegata variegata | Black-and-white ruffed lemur Black-and-white ruffed lemur The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities... |
1792, Kerr Robert Kerr (writer) Robert Kerr FRS was a scientific writer and translator from Scotland.Kerr was born in Roxburghshire as the son of a jeweller. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and practised at the Edinburgh Foundling Hospital as a surgeon... |
|||
Family: Lepilemuridae
Family Lepilemuridae consists solely of the sportive lemurSportive lemur
The sportive lemurs are the medium sized primates that make up the Lepilemuridae family. The family consists of only one extant genus, Lepilemur, as well as the extinct genus Megaladapis. They are closely related to the other lemurs and exclusively live on the island of Madagascar...
s. As of 2010, there are 26 extant species.
| Scientific name | Common name | Classified | Average size | Conservation status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lepilemur aeeclis | Antafia sportive lemur | 2006, Andriaholinirina et al. | |||
| Lepilemur ahmansonorum | Ahmanson's sportive lemur Ahmanson's Sportive Lemur Ahmanson's sportive lemur , or Tsiombikibo sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is a relatively small sportive lemur with a total length of about 47 to 54 centimeters, of which 23-25 centimeters are tail. Wright's sportive lemur is found in western Madagascar, living in... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur ankaranensis | Ankarana sportive lemur Ankarana Sportive Lemur The Ankarana sportive lemur , or Ankarana weasel lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is one of the smaller sportive lemurs with a total length of about 53 centimeters, including 25 centimeters of tail. Average body weight is approximately 750 grams... |
1975, Rumpler & Albignac | |||
| Lepilemur betsileo | Betsileo sportive lemur Betsileo Sportive Lemur The Betsileo sportive lemur is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is a relatively large sportive lemur with a total length of about 58 to 27 centimeters, of which 32 to 33 centimeters are tail. The Betsileo Sportive Lemur is found in eastern Madagascar, living in primary and secondary... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur dorsalis | Gray-backed sportive lemur Gray-backed Sportive Lemur The gray-backed sportive lemur , also known as gray's sportive lemur or back-striped sportive lemur, is a species of lemur in the Lepilemuridae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss.... |
1870, Gray John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray .... |
|||
| Lepilemur edwardsi | Milne-Edwards' sportive lemur Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur The Milne-Edwards' sportive lemur , or Milne-Edwards' weasel lemur, is a species of lemur in the Lepilemuridae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.... |
1894, Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major was a Swiss zoologist and vertebrate palaeontologist.Major was born in Glasgow and studied at Basel and Zurich Universities in Switzerland and later Göttingen in Germany... |
|||
| Lepilemur fleuretae | Fleurete's sportive lemur Fleurete's Sportive Lemur Fleurete's sportive lemur , or Andohahela sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is a medium sized sportive lemur with a total length of about 58 to 67 centimeters, of which about 30 centimeters are tail Fleurete's sportive lemur is found in southeastern Madagascar, living... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur grewcockorum | Grewcock's sportive lemur Grewcock's sportive lemur Grewcock's sportive lemur , or Anjiamangirana sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is a medium-sized sportive lemurs with a total length of about 55 to 63 centimeters, of which 26-30 centimeters are tail. Grewcock's sportive lemur is found in northwesetrn Madagascar,... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur hubbardorum | Hubbard's sportive lemur Hubbard's Sportive Lemur Hubbard's sportive lemur , or Zombitse sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It has total length of about 51 to 59 centimeters, of which 23-25 centimeters are tail. Hubbard's sportive lemur is found in southwestern Madagascar, living in dry transitional forests.Originally... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur jamesorum | James' sportive lemur James' Sportive Lemur James' sportive lemur , or Manombo sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is one of the larger sportive lemurs with a total length of about 60 to 67 centimeters, of which 28 to 32 centimeters are tail... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur leucopus | White-footed sportive lemur White-footed Sportive Lemur The white-footed sportive lemur , or white-footed weasel lemur, is a species of lemur in the Lepilemuridae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.... |
1894, Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major was a Swiss zoologist and vertebrate palaeontologist.Major was born in Glasgow and studied at Basel and Zurich Universities in Switzerland and later Göttingen in Germany... |
|||
| Lepilemur microdon | Small-toothed sportive lemur Small-toothed Sportive Lemur The small-toothed sportive lemur , or small-toothed weasel lemur, is a primate species in the family Lepilemuridae that—like all lemurs—is endemic to Madagascar. The species lives in dense rainforest in southeastern Madagascar, and can be found in Ranomafana and Andringitra National Parks... |
1894, Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major was a Swiss zoologist and vertebrate palaeontologist.Major was born in Glasgow and studied at Basel and Zurich Universities in Switzerland and later Göttingen in Germany... |
|||
| Lepilemur milanoii | Daraina sportive lemur | 2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur mittermeieri | Mittermeier's sportive lemur Mittermeier's Sportive Lemur The Mittermeier's sportive lemur is a sportive lemur endemic to the Ampasindava Peninsula in Madagascar.... |
2006, Rabarivola et al. | unknown | ||
| Lepilemur mustelinus | Weasel sportive lemur | 1851, I. Geoffroy Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French zoologist and an authority on deviation from normal structure. He coined the term ethology.He was born in Paris, the son of Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire... |
|||
| Lepilemur otto | Otto's sportive lemur Otto's Sportive Lemur Otto's sportive lemur , or Ambodimahabibo sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. Its coloration is primarily grey-brown. It is known only from Ambodimahabibo, between the Mahajamba River in the west and the Sofia River in the north.... |
2007, Craul et al. | unknown | ||
| Lepilemur petteri | Petter's sportive lemur Petter's Sportive Lemur Petter's sportive lemur is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is one of the smaller sportive lemurs with a total length of about 49 to 54 centimeters, of which 22-25 centimeters are tail. Petter's sportive lemur is found in southwestern Madagascar, living in dry spiny forests and some... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur randrianasoloi | Randrianasolo's sportive lemur | 2006, Andriaholinirina et al. | |||
| Lepilemur ruficaudatus | Red-tailed sportive lemur Red-tailed Sportive Lemur The red-tailed sportive lemur , or red-tailed weasel lemur, is native to Madagascar like all lemurs. It is a nocturnal species feeding largely on leaves, though they also eat some fruit. Individuals weigh around 800 grams, and there is little sexual dimorphism... |
1867, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Lepilemur sahamalazensis | Sahamalaza sportive lemur | 2006, Andriaholinirina et al. | |||
| Lepilemur scottorum | Scott's sportive lemur Scott's Sportive Lemur Scott's sportive lemur , or Masoala sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It has greyish brown fur and a black-tipped tail. It is named in honor of the Suzanne and Walter Scott Jr. Foundation.... |
2008, Lei et al. | unknown | ||
| Lepilemur seali | Seal's sportive lemur Seal's Sportive Lemur Seal's sportive lemur , or Anjanaharibe-Sud sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is a large sportive lemur with a total length of about 57 to 64 centimeters, of which 25 to 28 centimeters are tail. Seal's sportive lemur is found in northeastern Madagascar, living in... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur septentrionalis | Northern sportive lemur Northern Sportive Lemur The northern sportive lemur , also known as the Sahafary sportive lemur or northern weasel lemur, is a species of lemur in the Lepilemuridae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss and has been named one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates."-References:... |
1975, Rumpler & Albignac | |||
| Lepilemur tymerlachsonorum | Hawks' sportive lemur | 2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur wrightae | Wright's sportive lemur Wright's Sportive Lemur Wright's sportive lemur , or Kalambatritra sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is one of the larger sportive lemurs with a total length of about 52 to 64 centimeters, of which 24-27 centimeters are tail... |
2006, Louis, Jr. | |||
| Lepilemur hollandorum | Holland's sportive lemur Holland's Sportive Lemur Holland's sportive lemur , or Mananara-Nord sportive lemur, is a sportive lemur that is endemic to Madagascar. This lemur is found specifically in the Mananara-Nord Biosphere Reserve, but the limits of its habitat have yet to be determined. It lives in primary and secondary rainforests... |
2009, Ramaromilanto et al. | |||
Family: Indriidae
Family Indriidae consists of the indriIndri
The indri , also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a diurnal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar.- Etymology :...
(the largest extant lemur), the woolly lemur
Woolly lemur
The woolly lemurs, also known as avahis or woolly indris, are nine species of strepsirrhine primates. Like all other lemurs, they live only on the island of Madagascar....
s and the sifaka
Sifaka
Sifakas are a genus of lemur from the family Indriidae within the order Primates. Their name of the family is an onomatopoeia of their characteristic "shi-fak" alarm call. Like all lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar...
s. There are 19 extant species.
| Scientific name | Common name | Classified | Average size | Conservation status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avahi betsileo | Betsileo woolly lemur Betsileo Woolly Lemur The Betsileo woolly lemur or Betsileo avahi is a species of woolly lemur native to southeastern Madagascar, in the District of Fandriana. It weighs about 1 kg. The pelage differs significantly from other southeastern woolly lemurs in that it is primarily light reddish brown on most of the... |
2007, Andriantompohavana et al. | unknown | ||
| Avahi cleesei | Cleese's woolly lemur Cleese's Woolly Lemur The Bemaraha woolly lemur , also known as Cleese's woolly lemur, is a species of woolly lemur native to western Madagascar, named after John Cleese... |
2005, Thalmann and Geissmann | |||
| Avahi laniger | Eastern woolly lemur Eastern Woolly Lemur The eastern woolly lemur , also known as the eastern avahi or Gmelin's woolly lemur, is a species of woolly lemur native to eastern Madagascar, where it lives in humid forests. This nocturnal animal weighs 1-1.3 kg and reaches a length of 27–29 cm with a tail of 33–37 cm... |
1788, Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin was a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist and malacologist.- Education :Johann Friedrich Gmelin was born as the eldest son of Philipp Friedrich Gmelin in 1748 in Tübingen... |
|||
| Avahi meridionalis | Southern woolly lemur Southern Woolly Lemur The southern woolly lemur , or southern avahi, has been recently recognized as a separate species of woolly lemur in 2006 by Zaramody et al. It is a nocturnal and pair-living species... |
2006, Zaramody et al. | unknown | ||
| Avahi mooreorum | Moore's woolly lemur Moore's Woolly Lemur Moore's woolly lemur , or Masoala woolly lemur, is a woolly lemur endemic to Madagascar. It has brown-grey fur and a reddish tail. It is named in honor of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of San Francisco.... |
2008, Lei et al. | unknown | ||
| Avahi occidentalis | Western woolly lemur Western Woolly Lemur The western woolly lemur or western avahi is a species of woolly lemur native to western Madagascar, where they live in dry deciduous forests. These nocturnal animals weigh 0.7-0.9 kg. It is a folivorous species.... |
1898, von Lorenz-Liburnau | |||
| Avahi peyrierasi | Peyrieras' woolly lemur Peyrieras' Woolly Lemur The Peyrieras' woolly lemur or Peyrieras' avahi is a species of woolly lemur native to southeastern Madagascar. It weighs about 1 kg.... |
2006, Zaramody et al. | unknown | ||
| Avahi ramanantsoavani | Ramanantsoavana's woolly lemur Ramanantsoavana's Woolly Lemur The Ramanantsoavana's woolly lemur , also known as Manombo woolly lemur or Ramanantsoavana's avahi, is a species of woolly lemur native to southeastern Madagascar. It weighs about 1 kg. It was originally considered a subspecies of Southern woolly lemur , A. m... |
2006, Zaramody et al. | unknown | ||
| Avahi unicolor | Sambirano woolly lemur Sambirano Woolly Lemur The Sambirano woolly lemur , also known as the Sambirano avahi or Unicolor woolly lemur, is a species of woolly lemur native to western Madagascar.... |
2000, Thalmann and Geissmann | |||
| Indri indri | Indri Indri The indri , also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a diurnal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar.- Etymology :... |
1788, Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin was a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist and malacologist.- Education :Johann Friedrich Gmelin was born as the eldest son of Philipp Friedrich Gmelin in 1748 in Tübingen... |
|||
| Propithecus candidus | Silky sifaka Silky Sifaka The silky sifaka , or silky simpona, is a large lemur characterized by long, silky white fur. It has a very restricted range in northeastern Madagascar, where it is known locally as the simpona... |
1871, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Propithecus coquereli | Coquerel's sifaka Coquerel's Sifaka Coquerel's sifaka is a medium-sized lemur of the sifaka genus Propithecus. Like all lemurs, it is endemic to Madagascar.-Description:... |
1867, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Propithecus coronatus | Crowned sifaka Crowned Sifaka The crowned sifaka is a sifaka endemic to Madagascar. It has a length of 87 to 102 centimeters, of which 47-57 centimeters are tail. The crowned sifaka lives in western Madagascar. It lives in dry deciduous forest.... |
1871, Milne-Edwards Henri Milne-Edwards Henri Milne-Edwards was an eminent French zoologist.Henri Milne-Edwards was the 27th child of William Edwards, an English planter and militia colonel in Jamaica and Elisabeth Vaux, a French. He was born in Bruges, Belgium, where his parents had retired. At that time, Bruges was a part of the... |
|||
| Propithecus deckenii | Von der Decken's sifaka | 1870, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Propithecus diadema | Diademed sifaka Diademed Sifaka The diademed sifaka , or diademed simpona, is an endangered species of sifaka, one of the lemurs endemic to certain rainforests in eastern Madagascar. This species is one of the world's largest living lemurs, with a total adult length of approximately 105 centimetres , half of which is tail... |
1832, Bennett Edward Turner Bennett Edward Turner Bennett was an English zoologist and writer. He was the elder brother of the botanist John Joseph Bennett. Bennett was born at Hackney and practiced as a surgeon, but his chief pursuit was always zoology... |
|||
| Propithecus edwardsi | Milne-Edwards' sifaka Milne-Edwards' sifaka Milne-Edwards' sifaka , or Milne-Edwards' simpona, is a large arboreal, diurnal lemur endemic to the eastern coastal rainforest of Madagascar. Milne-Edwards' sifaka is characterized by a black body with a light-colored "saddle" on the lower part of its back. It is closely related to the diademed... |
1871, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
| Propithecus perrieri | Perrier's sifaka Perrier's Sifaka Perrier's sifaka is a sifaka endemic to Madagascar. It has a length of 85 to 92 centimeters, of which 42-46 centimeters are tail. Perrier's sifaka has a very limited range in northeastern Madagascar between the Irodo River to the north and the Lokia River to the south. It lives in dry deciduous... |
1931, Lavauden | |||
| Propithecus tattersalli | Golden-crowned sifaka Golden-crowned Sifaka The golden-crowned sifaka or Tattersall's sifaka is a medium-sized lemur characterized by mostly white fur, prominent furry ears and a golden-orange crown. It is one of the smallest sifakas , weighing around and measuring approximately from head to tail... |
1988, Simons | |||
| Propithecus verreauxi | Verreaux's sifaka Verreaux's Sifaka Verreaux's sifaka , or white sifaka, is a medium sized primate in one of the lemur families, Indriidae. It lives in Madagascar and can be found in a variety of habitats from rainforest to western Madagascar dry deciduous forests and dry and spiny forests... |
1867, A. Grandidier Alfred Grandidier Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world... |
|||
Family: Daubentoniidae
Family Daubentoniidae contains only one surviving species, of the aye-ayeAye-aye
The aye-aye is a lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth and a special thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker...
. Wide ranging genetic studies have shown that it separated from the ancestral lemurs long before any other branch of the modern Lemuriformes.
_2.jpg)
| Scientific name | Common name | Classified | Average size | Conservation status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubentonia madagascariensis | Aye-aye Aye-aye The aye-aye is a lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth and a special thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker... |
1788, Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin was a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist and malacologist.- Education :Johann Friedrich Gmelin was born as the eldest son of Philipp Friedrich Gmelin in 1748 in Tübingen... |
2.5 kg (5.5 lb) | ||
Extinct species
All known extinct lemurs from Madagascar are known from recent, subfossilSubfossil
Subfossil refers to remains whose fossilization process is not complete, either for lack of time or because the conditions in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization....
remains. Conditions for fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ization were not ideal on the island, so little is known about ancestral lemur populations. All known extinct lemurs are thought to have died out after the arrival of humans.
| Scientific name | Common name | Family | Estimated size | Extinction date | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeoindris fontoynonti Archaeoindris Archaeoindris fontoynonti is an extinct species of Malagasy lemur that was the largest primate to evolve on Madagascar. It weighed about and measured around 1.5m in height, more than a silverback gorilla. Archaeoindris is one of eight known members of the Palaeopropithecinae subfamily... |
Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 1600 CE | ||
| Archaeolemur edwardsi Archaeolemur Archaeolemur is an extinct genus of lemurs that includes two species, Archaeolemur edwardsi and A. majori.The genus was widespread throughout Madagascar through much of the Holocene epoch, and its remains are often abundant at fossil sites across the island. The wide geographical and temporal range... |
Monkey lemur Monkey lemur The Monkey lemurs or Baboon lemurs are an extinct type of lemurs that includes one family, Archaeolemuridae, two genera and three species. Despite their common names, members of Archaeolemuridae were not as closely related to monkeys as they were to other lemurs.... s (or baboon lemurs) |
Archaeolemuridae Monkey lemur The Monkey lemurs or Baboon lemurs are an extinct type of lemurs that includes one family, Archaeolemuridae, two genera and three species. Despite their common names, members of Archaeolemuridae were not as closely related to monkeys as they were to other lemurs.... |
1047–1280 CE | ||
| Archaeolemur majori Archaeolemur Archaeolemur is an extinct genus of lemurs that includes two species, Archaeolemur edwardsi and A. majori.The genus was widespread throughout Madagascar through much of the Holocene epoch, and its remains are often abundant at fossil sites across the island. The wide geographical and temporal range... |
Monkey lemur Monkey lemur The Monkey lemurs or Baboon lemurs are an extinct type of lemurs that includes one family, Archaeolemuridae, two genera and three species. Despite their common names, members of Archaeolemuridae were not as closely related to monkeys as they were to other lemurs.... s (or baboon lemurs) |
Archaeolemuridae Monkey lemur The Monkey lemurs or Baboon lemurs are an extinct type of lemurs that includes one family, Archaeolemuridae, two genera and three species. Despite their common names, members of Archaeolemuridae were not as closely related to monkeys as they were to other lemurs.... |
1047–1280 CE | ||
| Babakotia radofilai Babakotia Babakotia is a medium-sized, extinct genus of lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that contains a single species, Babakotia radofilai. Together with Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Mesopropithecus, it forms the family Palaeopropithecidae, commonly known as the sloth lemurs... |
Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 3050 BCE | ||
| Daubentonia robusta Giant Aye-aye The giant aye-aye is an extinct relative of the aye-aye, the only other species in the genus Daubentonia. It lived in Madagascar, appears to have disappeared less than 1,000 years ago, is entirely unknown in life, and is only known from subfossil remains.As of 2004, giant aye-aye remains consisted... |
Giant aye-aye Giant Aye-aye The giant aye-aye is an extinct relative of the aye-aye, the only other species in the genus Daubentonia. It lived in Madagascar, appears to have disappeared less than 1,000 years ago, is entirely unknown in life, and is only known from subfossil remains.As of 2004, giant aye-aye remains consisted... |
Daubentoniidae | 891–1027 CE | ||
| Hadropithecus stenognathus Hadropithecus Hadropithecus is a medium-sized, extinct genus of lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that includes a single species, Hadropithecus stenognathus. Due to its rarity and lack of sufficient skeletal remains, it is one of the least understood of the extinct lemurs... |
Monkey lemur Monkey lemur The Monkey lemurs or Baboon lemurs are an extinct type of lemurs that includes one family, Archaeolemuridae, two genera and three species. Despite their common names, members of Archaeolemuridae were not as closely related to monkeys as they were to other lemurs.... s (or baboon lemurs) |
Archaeolemuridae Monkey lemur The Monkey lemurs or Baboon lemurs are an extinct type of lemurs that includes one family, Archaeolemuridae, two genera and three species. Despite their common names, members of Archaeolemuridae were not as closely related to monkeys as they were to other lemurs.... |
444–772 CE | ||
| Megaladapis edwardsi | Koala lemurs | Megaladapidae | 1280–1420 CE | ||
| Megaladapis grandidieri | Koala lemurs | Megaladapidae | 1280–1420 CE | ||
| Megaladapis madagascariensis | Koala lemurs | Megaladapidae | 1280–1420 CE | ||
| Mesopropithecus dolichobrachion Mesopropithecus Mesopropithecus is an extinct genus of small to medium-sized lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that includes three species, M. dolichobrachion, M. globiceps, and M. pithecoides. Together with Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Babakotia, it is part of the sloth... |
Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 245–429 CE | ||
| Mesopropithecus globiceps Mesopropithecus Mesopropithecus is an extinct genus of small to medium-sized lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that includes three species, M. dolichobrachion, M. globiceps, and M. pithecoides. Together with Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Babakotia, it is part of the sloth... |
Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 245–429 CE | ||
| Mesopropithecus pithecoides Mesopropithecus Mesopropithecus is an extinct genus of small to medium-sized lemur, or strepsirrhine primate, from Madagascar that includes three species, M. dolichobrachion, M. globiceps, and M. pithecoides. Together with Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Babakotia, it is part of the sloth... |
Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 245–429 CE | ||
| Pachylemur insignis Pachylemur Pachylemur is an extinct genus of lemur most closely related to the ruffed lemurs . Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from subfossil remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar... |
Pachylemur Pachylemur Pachylemur is an extinct genus of lemur most closely related to the ruffed lemurs . Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from subfossil remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar... |
Lemuridae Lemuridae Lemuridae is a family of prosimian primates native to Madagascar, and one of five families commonly known as lemurs. These animals were thought to be the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes, but this is no longer considered correct... |
1280–1420 CE | ||
| Pachylemur jullyi Pachylemur Pachylemur is an extinct genus of lemur most closely related to the ruffed lemurs . Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from subfossil remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar... |
Pachylemur Pachylemur Pachylemur is an extinct genus of lemur most closely related to the ruffed lemurs . Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from subfossil remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar... |
Lemuridae Lemuridae Lemuridae is a family of prosimian primates native to Madagascar, and one of five families commonly known as lemurs. These animals were thought to be the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes, but this is no longer considered correct... |
1280–1420 CE | ||
| Palaeopropithecus ingens | Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 1300–1620 CE | ||
| Palaeopropithecus kelyus | Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | unknown | ||
| Palaeopropithecus maximus | Sloth lemurs | Palaeopropithecidae | 1300–1620 CE | ||
Footnotes
In 2008, the red lemur, Eulemur rufus, was split into two species, Eulemur rufus (red lemur) and Eulemur rufifrons (red-fronted lemur). Also, Eulemur rufus was previously known as the red-fronted lemur, but was renamed the red lemur, while Eulemur rufifrons assumed its former name.Formerly referred to as Eulemur albocollaris or white-collared brown lemur, but was changed in 2008.This extinction date for Babakotia radofilai is based on a single radiocarbon dateRadiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
from one specimen. For this reason, it is hard to tell when this species became extinct or how it is related to other lemur species.Average weights reported for this species are based on very small sample sizes or are general ranges for its genus and thus require further research.
External links
- Too Many New Lemur Species? – Interview with Anne Yoder, Director of the Duke Lemur Center