Lemur: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
There is no such thing as a LEMUR, especially in madagascar |
|||
'''Lemurs''' are part of a class of [[primate]]s known as [[prosimian]]s, and make up the infraorder '''Lemuriformes'''. This type of primate was the evolutionary predecessor of [[monkey]]s and [[ape]]s ([[simian]]s). 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. |
|||
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.<ref>{{cite web | title="What's A Lemur?"| url=http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/creature2.htm| accessdate=2006-04-19}}</ref> 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 [[Peters' Mouse Lemur]] to the 10 kilogram [[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. Typically, the smaller lemurs are active at night ([[nocturnal]]), while the larger ones are active during the day ([[diurnal animal|diurnal]]). |
|||
The small [[cheirogaleoid]]s are generally [[omnivore]]s, 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 [[lemuroid]]s are primarily [[herbivore]]s, although some species supplement their diet with insects. |
|||
All lemurs are [[endangered 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 approximately 56 living lemur species and subspecies. In some remote areas of Madagascar, the cultural motivation behind posting lemur hunting traps are that of indigenous superstition that lemurs are [[omen]]s 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]]. |
|||
==Classification== |
|||
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 [[haplorrhine]]s, suggesting they split off from the other lemurs first. As such, the Cheirogaleoidea are a sister [[clade]] to the Lemuroidea. |
|||
* ORDER [[primate|PRIMATES]]<ref name=MSW/> |
|||
** Suborder [[Strepsirrhini]]: non-tarsier prosimians |
|||
*** '''Infraorder Lemuriformes''' |
|||
**** Superfamily [[Cheirogaleidae|Cheirogaleoidea]] |
|||
***** Family [[Cheirogaleidae]]: dwarf and mouse lemurs |
|||
**** Superfamily [[Lemuroidea]] |
|||
***** Family [[Lemuridae]]: lemurs |
|||
***** Family [[Lepilemuridae]]: sportive lemurs |
|||
***** Family [[Indriidae]]: woolly lemurs and allies |
|||
*** Infraorder [[Aye-aye|Chiromyiformes]] |
|||
*** Infraorder [[Lorisiformes]] |
|||
** Suborder [[Haplorrhini]]: tarsiers, monkeys and apes |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 23:49, 15 June 2006
| Lemurs[1] | |
|---|---|
| File:Ring.tailed.lemur.600pix.jpg | |
| Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Infraorder: | Lemuriformes Gray, 1821
|
| Superfamilies and Families | |
There is no such thing as a LEMUR, especially in madagascar
References
- ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 111–121. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lemur.
Wikispecies has information related to Lemur.
- Lemurs of the East Coast of Madagascar
- New lemurs found in Madagascar
- Lemurs of Madagascar
- Great Leaping Lemurs - Madagascar is relying on the "cute" lemur to restart its tourism industry.
