Sportive lemur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sportive lemurs[1]
Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur
(L. sahamalazensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Infraorder: Lemuriformes
Family: Lepilemuridae
Gray, 1870
Genus: Lepilemur
I. Geoffroy, 1851
Type species
Lepilemur mustelinus
I. Geoffroy
Species

over 20, see text

Synonyms

Genus:

  • Galeocebus Wagner, 1855
  • Lepidilemur Giebel, 1859
  • Mixocebus Peters, 1874

The sportive lemurs are the medium sized primates that make up the Lepilemuridae family. 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.

Physical characteristics

Eyeshine

Their fur is grey brown or reddish colored on the top and whitish yellow underneath. They typically have a short head with large, round ears. They grow to a length of 30 to 35 cm (with a tail just about as long as their body) and weigh up to 0.9 kg. Their eyes have a tapetum lucidum behind the retina, hence they have eyeshine.

Behaviour and mating

Sportive lemurs are strictly nocturnal and predominantly arboreal, moving among the trees with long jumps powered by their strong hind legs. On the ground, they hop similarly as the kangaroos. During the day they hide in the leafy covering or tree hollows. Sportive lemurs are solitary but defend their territory vehemently against same sex intruders. The territories of males and females can overlap.

Diet

They are mainly herbivores and their diet consists predominantly of leaves.

Reproduction and lifespan

Birthing happens between September and December after a gestation of 120 to 150 days, and is usually of a single young which is often reared in a nest in a tree hollow. At about four months the juveniles are weaned but remain with their mother up to an age of one year. At about 18 months they are fully mature, and live to be about eight years old.

Classification

  • Order Primates
    • Suborder Strepsirrhini: lemurs, galagos, and lorisids
      • Infraorder †Adapiformes
      • Infraorder Lemuriformes
        • Superfamily Lemuroidea
          • Family †Archaeolemuridae
          • Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf and mouse lemurs
          • Family Daubentoniidae: Aye-aye
          • Family Indriidae: woolly lemurs and allies
          • Family Lemuridae: lemurs
          • Family Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
            • Genus Lepilemur
              • AEECL's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur aeeclis) *
              • Ahmanson's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur ahmansonorum) **
              • Ankarana Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur ankaranensis)
              • Betsileo Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur betsileo) **
              • Gray-backed Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur dorsalis)
              • Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur edwardsi)
              • Fleurete's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur fleuretae) **
              • Grewcock's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur grewcockorum) **
              • Holland's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur hollandorum) *****
              • Hubbard's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum) **
              • James' Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur jamesorum) **
              • White-footed Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur leucopus)
              • Manasamody Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur manasamody) ***
              • Small-toothed Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur microdon)
              • Daraina Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur milanoii) **
              • Weasel Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur mustelinus)
              • Otto's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur otto) ***
              • Petter's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur petteri) **
              • Randrianasolo's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur randrianasoloi) *
              • Red-tailed Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur ruficaudatus)
              • Sahamalaza's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis) *
              • Scott's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur scottorum)****
              • Seal's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur seali) **
              • Northern Sportive Lemur, (Lepilemur septentrionalis)
              • Hawk's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur tymerlachsonorum) **
              • Wright's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur wrightae) **
          • Family †Megaladapidae
          • Family †Palaeopropithecidae
        • Superfamily Lorisoidea: lorises, pottos, galagos and allies
    • Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes
* New species according to molecular analysis[2]
** New species according to molecular analysis[3]
*** New species according to molecular analysis[4]
**** New species according to molecular analysis[5]
***** New species according to molecular analysis[6]

References

  1. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). "Family Lepilemuridae". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 117–119. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. 
  2. ↑ Andriaholinirina, N., Fausser, J., Roos, C., Rumpler, Y., et al. (2006-02-23). "Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates)". BMC Evolutionary Biology 6: 17. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-6-17. PMC 1397877. PMID 16504080. 
  3. ↑ 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. 
  4. ↑ Mathias Craul, Elke Zimmermann, Solofo Rasoloharijaona, Blanchard Randrianambinina and Ute Radespiel (2007-05-31). "Unexpected species diversity of Malagasy primates (Lepilemur spp.) in the same biogeographical zone: a morphological and molecular approach with the description of two new species". BMC Evolutionary Biology 7: 83. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-83. PMC 1913500. PMID 17540016. 
  5. ↑ Palmer, Jane (2008-02-21). "Henry Doorly Zoo scientists identify two new lemur species". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2008-02-24. 
  6. ↑ B. Ramaromilanto, R. Lei, S. E. Engberg, S. E. Johnson, B. D. Sitzmann, and E. E. Louis, Jr., 2009. (2009-04-08). "Description of a new sportive lemur, Holland’s or Mananara-Nord sportive lemur, from Mananara-Nord Biosphere Reserve, Madagascar". Museum of Texas Tech University, N. 286, 1-22. Retrieved 2009-05-23. 

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Lepilemuridae
Wikispecies has information related to: Lepilemur
Extant primate families by suborder
Strepsirrhini
Haplorhini
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.