Lemur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iLemurs^[1]

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Strepsirrhini
Infraorder:	Lemuriformes Gray, 1821

Superfamilies and Families

Cheirogaleoidea
- Cheirogaleidae
Lemuroidea

Lemurs are members of a class of primates known as prosimians and make up the infraorder Lemuriformes. This type of primate is considered the evolutionary predecessor of monkeys and apes (simians). The term "lemur" is derived from the Latin word lemures, which means "spirits of the night". This likely refers to many of the nocturnal lemur species and their large, reflective eyes. The term is generically used for the members of the four lemuriform families, but it is also the genus of one of the lemuriform species. The two flying lemur species are not lemurs, nor are they even primates.

1 Biology
- 1.1 Endangered species
2 Classification
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Biology

Lemurs are found naturally only on the island of Madagascar and some smaller surrounding islands, including the Comoros (where it is likely they were introduced by humans). Fossil evidence indicates that they made their way across the ocean after Madagascar broke away from the continent of Africa.^[2] While their ancestors were displaced in the rest of the world by monkeys, apes, and other primates, the lemurs were safe from competition on Madagascar and differentiated into a number of species. These range in size from the tiny 30 gram (1oz) Pygmy Mouse Lemur to the 10 kilogram (22lb) Indri. The larger species have all become extinct since humans settled on Madagascar, and since the early 20th century the largest lemurs reach about 7 kilograms(15lbs). Typically, the smaller lemurs are active at night (nocturnal), while the larger ones are active during the day (diurnal).

The small cheirogaleoids are generally omnivores, eating a variety of fruits, flowers and leaves (and sometimes nectar) as well as insects, spiders and small vertebrates. The remainder of the lemurs, the lemuroids are primarily herbivores, although some species supplement their diet with insects.

[edit] Endangered species

All lemurs are endangered species or threatened species, due mainly to habitat destruction (deforestation) and hunting. Although conservation efforts are under way, options are limited because of the lemurs' limited range and because Madagascar is desperately poor. Currently, there are 85 living lemur species accounted for in current publications,^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] with more currently awaiting publication. In some remote areas of Madagascar, the cultural motivation behind posting lemur hunting traps are that of indigenous superstition that lemurs are omens and harbingers of bad fortune. This hindsight is commonly inspired by the lemur's unique features.

One of the foremost lemur research facilities is the Duke University Lemur Center.

[edit] Classification

Thermographic image of a ringtailed lemur in the morning sun.

As shown here, the four families of lemurs are split into two superfamilies. The Cheirogaleidae have a pedal structure, similar to the other strepsirrhine families and the haplorrhines, suggesting they split off from the other lemurs first. As such, the Cheirogaleoidea are a sister clade to the Lemuroidea.

ORDER PRIMATES^[1]
- Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
  - Infraorder Lemuriformes
    - Superfamily Cheirogaleoidea
      - Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf and mouse lemurs
    - Superfamily Lemuroidea
      - Family Lemuridae: lemurs
      - Family Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
      - Family Indriidae: woolly lemurs and allies
  - Infraorder Chiromyiformes
  - Infraorder Lorisiformes
- Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 111-121. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
^ "What's A Lemur?". Retrieved on 2006-04-19.
^ Mittermeier, Russell A., Konstant, William R., Hawkins, Frank , Louis, Edward E., and Langrand, Olivier (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar, 2nd edition, Conservation International. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
^ Andriaholinirina, N., Fausser, J., Roos, C., Rumpler, Y., et al (2006 February 23). "Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates)". BMC Evolutionary Biology 6: 17. DOI:10.1186/1471-2148-6-17.
^ Edward E. Louis, Jr., Shannon E. Engberg, Runhua Lei, Huimin Geng, Julie A. Sommer, Richard Randriamampionona, Jean C. Randriamanana, John R. Zaonarivelo, Rambinintsoa Andriantompohavana, Gisele Randria, Prosper, Boromé Ramaromilanto, Gilbert Rakotoarisoa, Alejandro Rooney, and Rick A. Brenneman (2006). "Molecular and morphological analyses of the sportive lemurs (Family Megaladapidae: Genus Lepilemur) reveals 11 previously unrecognized species" (PDF). Texas Tech University Special Publications (49): 1-49.
^ Olivieria, G., Zimmermannb, E., Randrianambininab, B., Rassoloharijaonab, S., Rakotondravonyb, D., Guschanskia, K., Radespiela, U. (2006-10-26). "The ever-increasing diversity in mouse lemurs: three new species in north and northwestern Madagascar". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.10.026 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.10.026 .