Pachylemur
Encyclopedia
Pachylemur is an extinct genus
of lemur
most closely related to the ruffed lemur
s (genus Varecia
). Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from subfossil
remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar
. It may have survived in the extreme south of Madagascar until as recently as 1280-1420 CE
.
With a more robust postcrania
l skeleton than Varecia, Pachylemur was initially thought to be more terrestrial
, and thus more vulnerable to human predation than its arboreal cousins. However, more recent studies have suggested a largely arboreal lifestyle, as well as some suspensory behavior
.
Microwear and tooth morphology studies have also suggested a mixed diet dominated by fruit, also similar to that of Varecia. However, the skull of Pachylemur is broader, with larger jaws and teeth relative to Varecia, possibly indicating a more fibrous diet.
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...
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...
most closely related to 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 (genus Varecia
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...
). Its two representative species, Pachylemur insignis and Pachylemur jullyi, are only known from 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....
remains found at sites in central and southwestern Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. It may have survived in the extreme south of Madagascar until as recently as 1280-1420 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...
.
With a more robust postcrania
Postcrania
Postcrania[p] in zoology and vertebrate paleontology refers to all or part of the skeleton apart from the skull. Frequently, fossil remains, e.g...
l skeleton than Varecia, Pachylemur was initially thought to be more terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
, and thus more vulnerable to human predation than its arboreal cousins. However, more recent studies have suggested a largely arboreal lifestyle, as well as some suspensory behavior
Suspensory behavior
Suspensory Behavior, exhibited by primates, is a form of arboreal locomotion or a feeding behavior which involves hanging or suspension of the body below or among the branches, rather than moving or sitting on top of the branches...
.
Microwear and tooth morphology studies have also suggested a mixed diet dominated by fruit, also similar to that of Varecia. However, the skull of Pachylemur is broader, with larger jaws and teeth relative to Varecia, possibly indicating a more fibrous diet.