Science of describing species and defining the evolutionary relationships between taxa of lemurs
The ring-tailed lemur was one of the first lemurs to be classified, by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Lemurs were first classified in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, and the taxonomy remains controversial today, with approximately 70 to 100 species and subspecies recognized, depending on how the term "species" is defined. Having undergone their own independent evolution on Madagascar, lemurs have diversified to fill many ecological niches normally filled by other types of mammals. They include the smallest primates in the world, and once included some of the largest. Since the arrival of humans approximately 2,000 years ago, lemurs have become restricted to 10% of the island, or approximately 60,000 square kilometers (23,000 sq mi), and many face extinction. Concerns over lemur conservation have affected lemur taxonomy, since distinct species receive increased conservation attention compared to subspecies.
The relationship between the aye-aye and the rest of the lemurs has had the greatest impact on lemur taxonomy at the family rank and above. Genetic analysis of this relationship has also clarified lemur phylogeny and supports the hypothesis that lemurs rafted to Madagascar. Despite general agreement on phylogeny, the taxonomy is still under debate. At the genus level, the taxonomy has been relatively stable since 1931, but a number of additional genera have been recognized since then.
Since the 1990s, there has been a steep increase in the number of recognized lemur species and subspecies through the discovery of new species, the elevation of existing subspecies to full species status, and the recognition of new species among previously known populations that were not even distinct subspecies. Currently living lemur species are divided into five families and 15 genera. If the extinct subfossil lemurs are included, three families, eight genera, and 17 species would be added to the count. The recent rise in species numbers is due to both improved genetic analysis and a push in conservation to encourage the protection of isolated and distinct lemur populations. Not everyone in the scientific community supports these taxonomic changes, with some preferring instead an estimate of 50 living species.
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aye-aye and the rest of the lemurs has had the greatest impact on lemurtaxonomy at the family rank and above. Genetic analysis of this relationship has...
Lemurs (/ˈliːmər/ LEE-mər) (from Latin lemures – "ghosts" or "spirits") are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (/lɛmjʊˈrɔɪdiə/), divided...
estimates indicate that lemurs and the lorisoids diverged in Africa during the Paleocene, approximately 62 mya. Between 47 and 54 mya, lemurs dispersed to Madagascar...
The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemursof the genus Microcebus. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar. Mouse lemurs have a combined head...
traits with early primates. In this regard, lemurs are popularly confused with ancestral primates; however, lemurs did not give rise to monkeys and apes, but...
The bamboo lemurs or gentle lemurs are the lemurs in genus Hapalemur. These medium-sized primates live exclusively on Madagascar. Bamboo lemurs were first...
of the Northern Hemisphere as the climate cooled. Adapiforms are sometimes referred to as being "lemur-like", although the diversity of both lemurs and...
Subfossil lemurs are lemurs from Madagascar that are represented by recent (subfossil) remains dating from nearly 26,000 years ago to approximately 560 years...
explain the selection of sleeping location. The fossa hunts the Great bamboo lemurs in large numbers. As a result, the lemurs must maintain a secure...
The brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) is a small primate, and like the other mouse lemurs can only be found on the island of Madagascar. They are known...
flying lemur or Philippine colugo (Cynocephalus volans), known locally as kagwang, is one of two species of colugo or "flying lemurs". It is monotypic of its...
The woolly lemurs, also known as avahis or woolly indris, are nine species of strepsirrhine primates in the genus Avahi. Like all other lemurs, they live...
For many years, pygmy mouse lemurs were not considered to be a different species when compared to other mouse lemurs. However, recently there have been...
Lepidolemur. Members of the monogeneric family Lepilemuridae are referred to as either sportive or weasel lemurs. "Sportive lemur", which is more commonly...
Baines, Elizabeth (2001). "Colugos or 'Flying lemurs'". The Natural History Collections. University of Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 30 August...
like many lemurs. All prosimians possess two laterally flattened toilet claws, used for grooming. These are found on the second toe in lemurs and lorises...
are most closely related to mouse lemurs within Cheirogaleidae, a family of small, nocturnal lemurs. Giant mouse lemurs sleep in nests during the day and...
actor John Cleese in recognition of his work to publicize the plight oflemurs in Madagascar. Non-profit ecological organizations may also allow benefactors...
sloth lemurs (Palaeopropithecidae) comprise an extinct family oflemurs that includes four genera. The common name can be misleading, as members of Palaeopropithecidae...
red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) is one of two species in the genus Varecia, the ruffed lemurs; the other is the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata)...
characteristic "shi-fak" alarm call. Like all lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar. All species of sifakas are threatened, ranging from endangered...
bamboo lemur feeds mainly on bamboo. The lemursof the genus Hapalemur have more manual dexterity and hand–eye coordination than most lemurs. They are...
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