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Monkey Lemur
The monkey lemurs or baboon lemurs (Archaeolemuridae) are a recently extinct family of lemurs known from skeletal remains from sites on Madagascar dated to 1000 to 3000 years ago. The monkey lemur family is divided into two genera, ''Hadropithecus'' and ''Archaeolemur'', and three species. Classification and phylogeny The genus ''Archaeolemur'' consists of two known species, ''Archaeolemur edwardsi'' and ''Archaeolemur majori''. Recently, there have been findings of fossils in the north to northeast of Madagascar. Reconstructions indicate that the extinct lemurs did not climb very often and imply that they were much more adept at terrestrial living, more than any other extant strepsirrhhine. They are not believed to have been exclusively terrestrial, but rather to have had a combined habitat of ground and arboreal life. A modest degree of curvature found in the remains support this idea. The hands and feet are very robust and large in size, but are very short, and said to be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family (taxonomy), family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. :E.g. ''Panthera leo'' (lion) and ''Panthera onca'' (jaguar) are two species within the genus ''Panthera''. ''Panthera'' is a genus within the family Felidae. The composition of a genus is determined by taxonomy (biology), taxonomists. The standards for genus classification are not strictly codified, so different authorities often produce different classifications for genera. There are some general practices used, however, including the idea that a newly defined genus should fulfill these three criteria to be descriptively useful: # monophyly – all descendants ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cheirogaleidae
The Cheirogaleidae are the family of strepsirrhine primates containing the various dwarf and mouse lemurs. Like all other lemurs, cheirogaleids live exclusively on the island of Madagascar. Characteristics Cheirogaleids are smaller than the other lemurs and, in fact, they are the smallest primates. They have soft, long fur, colored grey-brown to reddish on top, with a generally brighter underbelly. Typically, they have small ears, large, close-set eyes, and long hind legs. Like all strepsirrhines, they have fine claws at the second toe of the hind legs. They grow to a size of only 13 to 28 cm, with a tail that is very long, sometimes up to one and a half times as long as the body. They weigh no more than 500 grams, with some species weighing as little as 60 grams. Dwarf and mouse lemurs are nocturnal and arboreal. They are excellent climbers and can also jump far, using their long tails for balance. When on the ground (a rare occurrence), they move by hopping on t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Subfossil Lemurs
Subfossil lemurs are lemurs from Madagascar that are represented by recent (subfossil) remains dating from nearly 26,000 years ago to approximately 560 years ago (from the late Pleistocene until the Holocene). They include both extant and Extinction, extinct species, although the term more frequently refers to the extinct giant lemurs. The diversity of subfossil lemur communities was greater than that of present-day lemur communities, ranging from as high as 20 or more species per location, compared with 10 to 12 species today. Extinct species are estimated to have ranged in size from slightly over to roughly . Even the subfossil remains of living species are larger and more robust than the skeletal remains of modern specimens. The subfossil sites found around most of the island demonstrate that most giant lemurs had wide distributions and that ranges of living species have contracted significantly since the arrival of humans. Despite their size, the giant lem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megaladapis
''Megaladapis'' ("Great ''Adapis''" from Ancient Greek μεγαλος (megalos), "great, big" + Modern Latin ''Adapis'', "''Adapis''"), informally known as the koala lemur, was a genus belonging to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three extinct species of lemurs that once inhabited the island of Madagascar. The largest measured between in length. Adaptations ''Megaladapis'' was quite different from any living lemur. Its body was squat and built like that of the modern koala. Its long arms, fingers, feet, and toes were specialized for grasping trees, and its legs were splayed for vertical climbing. The hands and feet were curved and the ankles and wrists did not have the usual stability needed to travel on the ground that most other lemurids have. Its pedal morphology suggests ''Megaladapis'' evolved to live in an arboreal environment. Its foot had a large hallux and lateral abductor musculature that helped it to grasp vertically on trees, features shared by other arb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dental Microwear
Dental microwear analysis is a method to infer diet and behavior in extinct animals, especially in fossil specimens. Typically, the patterns of pits and scratches on the occlusal or buccal surface of the enamel are compared with patterns observed in extant species to infer ecological information. Hard foods in particular can lead to distinctive patterns (although see below). Microwear can also be used for inferring behavior, especially those related to the non-masticatory use of teeth as 'tools'. Other uses include investigating weaning in past populations. Methods used to collect data initially involved a microscope and manually collecting information on individual microwear features, but software to automatically collect data have improved markedly in recent years. Potential issues and on-going debates * The role of phytolith Phytoliths (from Greek, "plant stone") are rigid, microscopic structures made of silica, found in some plant tissues and persisting after the decay of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indriidae
The Indriidae (sometimes incorrectly spelled Indridae) 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. Indriids, like all lemurs, live exclusively on the island of Madagascar. Classification The 19 living species in the family are divided into three genera. Family Indriidae *Genus ''Indri'' **Indri, ''Indri indri'' *Genus '' Avahi'', woolly lemurs **Bemaraha woolly lemur, ''Avahi cleesei'' **Eastern woolly lemur, ''Avahi laniger'' **Moore's woolly lemur, ''Avahi mooreorum'' **Western woolly lemur, ''Avahi occidentalis'' **Sambirano woolly lemur, ''Avahi unicolor'' **Peyrieras's woolly lemur, ''Avahi peyrierasi'' **Southern woolly lemur, ''Avahi meridionalis'' **Ramanantsoavana's woolly lemur, ''Avahi ramanantsoavani'' **Betsileo woolly lemur, ''Avahi betsileo'' *Genus ''Propithecus'', sifakas **''Propithecus diadema'' group ***Diademed sifaka, ''Propithecus diadema'' ***Silky sifaka, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sloth Lemur
The sloth lemurs (Palaeopropithecidae) comprise an extinct family of lemurs that includes four genera. The common name can be misleading, as members of Palaeopropithecidae were not closely related to sloths. This clade has been dubbed the ‘‘sloth lemurs’’ because of remarkable postcranial convergences with South American sloths. Despite postcranial similarities, the hands and feet show significant differences. Sloths possess long, curved claws, while sloth lemurs have short, flat nails on their distal phalanges like most primates. Diet Members of the family Palaeopropithecidae appear to have eaten a mix of fruit, nuts, and foliage. The sloth lemurs were mixed-feeders rather than specialized browsers who ate a mixed diet based on seasonality. On the basis of highly robust mandible, ''Palaeopropithecus'' and ''Archaeoindris'' can be considered highly folivorous. The family Palaeopropithecidae exhibited molar megadonty, small deciduous teeth with low occlusal length ratio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sportive Lemur
The sportive lemurs are the medium-sized primates that make up the family Lepilemuridae. The family consists of only one extant genus, ''Lepilemur''. They are closely related to the other lemurs and exclusively live on the island of Madagascar. For a time, this family was named Megaladapidae, but the current name was given precedence since the extinct genus ''Megaladapis'' was removed from the family. Etymology French zoologist Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire first described the genus ''Lepilemur'' in 1851, prefixing the existing genus ''Lemur'' with the Latin ''lepidus'' ("pleasant" or "pretty"). However, it was erroneously spelled—a mistake later authors unsuccessfully attempted to correct to ''Lepidolemur''. Members of the monogeneric family Lepilemuridae are referred to as either sportive or weasel lemurs. "Sportive lemur", which is more commonly used, was coined by Henry Ogg Forbes in 1894. Though he did not explain the name choice, he did mention the agility of ''Lepilemu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lemuridae
Lemuridae is a family of strepsirrhine primates native to Madagascar and the Comoros. They are represented by the Lemuriformes in Madagascar with one of the highest concentration of the lemurs. One of five families commonly known as lemurs. These animals were once thought to be the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes, but this is no longer considered correct. They are formally referred to as lemurids. Classification The family Lemuridae contains 21 extant species in five genera. Family Lemuridae *Genus ''Lemur'' **Ring-tailed lemur, ''Lemur catta'' *Genus ''Eulemur'', true lemurs'' **Common brown lemur, ''Eulemur fulvus'' **Sanford's brown lemur, ''Eulemur sanfordi'' **White-headed lemur, ''Eulemur albifrons'' **Red lemur, ''Eulemur rufus'' **Red-fronted lemur, ''Eulemur rufifrons'' **Collared brown lemur, ''Eulemur collaris'' **Gray-headed lemur, ''Eulemur cinereiceps'' ** Black lemur, ''Eulemur macaco'' **Blue-eyed black lemur, ''Eulemur flavifrons'' **Crowned lemur, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hadropithecus
''Hadropithecus'' ("bulky ape" from Greek ἁδρός (hadros), "bulky, large" + πίθηκος (pithekos), "ape") 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. Both it and ''Archaeolemur'' are collectively known as "monkey lemurs" or "baboon lemurs" due to body plans and dentition that suggest a terrestrial lifestyle and a diet similar to that of modern baboons. ''Hadropithecus'' had extended molars and a short, powerful jaw, suggesting that it was both a grazer and a seed predator. The monkey lemurs are considered to be most closely related to the living indriids and the recently extinct sloth lemurs, although recent finds had caused some dispute over a possible closer relation to living lemurids. Genetic tests, however, have reaffirmed the previously presumed r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Koala Lemur
''Megaladapis'' ("Great ''Adapis''" from Ancient Greek μεγαλος (megalos), "great, big" + Modern Latin ''Adapis'', "''Adapis''"), informally known as the koala lemur, was a genus belonging to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three extinct species of lemurs that once inhabited the island of Madagascar. The largest measured between in length. Adaptations ''Megaladapis'' was quite different from any living lemur. Its body was squat and built like that of the modern koala. Its long arms, fingers, feet, and toes were specialized for grasping trees, and its legs were splayed for vertical climbing. The hands and feet were curved and the ankles and wrists did not have the usual stability needed to travel on the ground that most other lemurids have. Its pedal morphology suggests ''Megaladapis'' evolved to live in an arboreal environment. Its foot had a large hallux and lateral abductor musculature that helped it to grasp vertically on trees, features shared by other arb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daubentonia
''Daubentonia'' is the sole genus of the Daubentoniidae, a family of lemuroid primate native to much of Madagascar. The aye-aye ''(Daubentonia madagascariensis)'' is the only extant member. However, a second species known as the giant aye-aye The giant aye-aye (''Daubentonia robusta'') 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, an ... ''(Daubentonia robusta)'' lived until recently, becoming extinct within the last 1000 years. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q2899669, from2=Q12358399 Lemur genera Mammal genera with one living species Lemurs Taxa described in 1795 Taxa named by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
