Charles Lamberton: Difference between revisions
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For nearly 50 years, Lamberton studied the [[subfossil lemur]]s, a group of extinct, giant lemurs that died out shortly after the arrival of humans to the island.{{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2011|pp=149–150}} During the 1930s, Lamberton led several paleontological expeditions primarily to the southwest of Madagascar.{{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2011|pp=149–150}}{{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2009|p=234}}{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|p=253}} In 1936, based on [[Skull|cranial]] remains he had discovered, Lamberton named and [[Species description|described]] a species of [[sloth lemur]], ''[[Mesopropithecus|Mesopropithecus globiceps]]'', which he initially placed under another [[Genus|genus]].{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|p=253}} |
For nearly 50 years, Lamberton studied the [[subfossil lemur]]s, a group of extinct, giant lemurs that died out shortly after the arrival of humans to the island.{{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2011|pp=149–150}} During the 1930s, Lamberton led several paleontological expeditions primarily to the southwest of Madagascar.{{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2011|pp=149–150}}{{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2009|p=234}}{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|p=253}} In 1936, based on [[Skull|cranial]] remains he had discovered, Lamberton named and [[Species description|described]] a species of [[sloth lemur]], ''[[Mesopropithecus|Mesopropithecus globiceps]]'', which he initially placed under another [[Genus|genus]].{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|p=253}} |
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During the early 1900s, reconstructions of subfossil lemurs were poor interpretation due to misattributions of [[postcrania]]l bones.{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|p=253}} Although other paleontologists had begun correcting misattributed bones and issues of [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonymy]], Lamberton fixed more misattributions and poor interpretations of subfossil lemur remains than any other paleontologist. In 1947, he correctly identified the postcranial remains of the sloth lemur, ''[[Palaeopropithecus]]'', which Guillaume Grandidier had mistakenly attributed to a giant tree [[sloth]] he called ''Bradytherium''. Ten years later, in 1957, he wrote a crushing rebuttal to Italian paleontologist Guiseppe Sera by pointing out many skeletal misattributions and tactfully refuting his fancifully creative "arboreal-aquatic acrobat" theory for ''Palaeopropithecus''. Both Lamberton and British paleontologist Alice Carleton showed that ''Palaeopropithecus'' was [[Suspensory behavior|suspensory]], however, Carleton proposed that ''Palaeopropithecus'' was sloth-like, while Lamberton predicted locomotion more similar to that of an [[orangutan]]. It wasn't until the late 1900s that subfossil discoveries demonstrated that ''Palaeopropithecus'' was more sloth-like.{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|pp=254–256}} |
During the early 1900s, reconstructions of subfossil lemurs were poor interpretation due to misattributions of [[postcrania]]l bones.{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|p=253}} Although other paleontologists had begun correcting misattributed bones and issues of [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonymy]], Lamberton fixed more misattributions and poor interpretations of subfossil lemur remains than any other paleontologist. In 1947, he correctly identified the postcranial remains of the sloth lemur, ''[[Palaeopropithecus]]'', which Guillaume Grandidier had mistakenly attributed to a giant tree [[sloth]] he called ''Bradytherium''. Ten years later, in 1957, he wrote a crushing rebuttal to Italian paleontologist Guiseppe Sera by pointing out many skeletal misattributions and tactfully refuting his misinterpretation of the [[koala lemur]] (''Megaladapis'') as a [[Batoidea|ray]]-like swimmer and his fancifully creative "arboreal-aquatic acrobat" theory for ''Palaeopropithecus''. Both Lamberton and British paleontologist Alice Carleton showed that ''Palaeopropithecus'' was [[Suspensory behavior|suspensory]], however, Carleton proposed that ''Palaeopropithecus'' was sloth-like, while Lamberton predicted locomotion more similar to that of an [[orangutan]]. It wasn't until the late 1900s that subfossil discoveries demonstrated that ''Palaeopropithecus'' was more sloth-like.{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|pp=254–256}} |
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Lamberton also corrected misattributions for ''Mesopropithecus'' made by Carleton, but failed to fix earlier misattributions for the largest of the extinct lemurs, ''[[Archaeoindris]]''. However, these errors with ''Archaeoindris'' were not properly fixed until 1988.{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|pp=254–255}} |
Lamberton also corrected misattributions for ''Mesopropithecus'' made by Carleton, but failed to fix earlier misattributions for the largest of the extinct lemurs, ''[[Archaeoindris]]''. However, these errors with ''Archaeoindris'' were not properly fixed until 1988.{{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003|pp=254–255}} |
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In 1948, Lamberton established the name ''[[Pachylemur]]'' for an extinct type of giant [[ruffed lemur]] as a [[subgenus]] of the genus ''Lemur'', which then contained all the species of the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Lemuridae]].{{Sfn|Lamberton|1948|p=7}} By 1979, ''Pachylemur'' was generally accepted as a valid genus.{{Sfn|Zijlstra|Groves|Dunkel|2011|p=277}} However, the name ''Pachylemur'' had [[nomenclature|nomenclatural]] problems relating to the [[Principle of Homonymy]], the [[Principle of Priority]], and Lamberton's failure to select a [[type species]]. These problems could potentially render the name [[available name|unavailable]] under the rules of [[International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature|zoological nomenclature]].{{Sfn|Zijlstra|Groves|Dunkel|2011|pp=276–277}} To conserve the name ''Pachylemur'', Jelle Zijlstra, [[Colin Groves]], and Alex Dunkel submitted a petition to the [[International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature]] in 2011.{{Sfn|Zijlstra|Groves|Dunkel|2011|p=275}} |
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==Honors== |
==Honors== |
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===Literature cited=== |
===Literature cited=== |
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* {{cite book | last1 = Beolens | first1 = B. | last2 = Watkins | first2 = M. | last3 = Grayson | first3 = M. | title = The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | year = 2011 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=0F758vNQ0UUC&pg=PT480&dq=Charles+Lamberton | isbn = 978-1421401355 | ref = harv}} |
* <!-- {{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2011}} -->{{cite book | last1 = Beolens | first1 = B. | last2 = Watkins | first2 = M. | last3 = Grayson | first3 = M. | title = The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | year = 2011 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=0F758vNQ0UUC&pg=PT480&dq=Charles+Lamberton | isbn = 978-1421401355 | ref = harv}} |
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* {{cite book | last1 = Beolens | first1 = B. | last2 = Watkins | first2 = M. | last3 = Grayson | first3 = M. | title = The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | year = 2009 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=I-kSmWLc6vYC&pg=PA234&dq=Charles+Lamberton | isbn = 978-0801893049 | ref = harv}} |
* <!-- {{Sfn|Beolens|Watkins|Grayson|2009}} -->{{cite book | last1 = Beolens | first1 = B. | last2 = Watkins | first2 = M. | last3 = Grayson | first3 = M. | title = The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | year = 2009 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=I-kSmWLc6vYC&pg=PA234&dq=Charles+Lamberton | isbn = 978-0801893049 | ref = harv}} |
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* {{cite doi | 10.1002/evan.10123}} |
* <!-- {{Sfn|Godfrey|Jungers|2003}} -->{{cite doi | 10.1002/evan.10123}} |
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* <!-- {{Sfn|Lamberton|1948}} -->{{cite journal | last1 = Lamberton | first1 = C. | year = 1948 | pages = 7–22 | title = Contribution à la connaissance de la faune subfossile de Madagascar: Note XVII. Les Pachylémurs | journal = Bulletin de l'Académie malgache | volume = 27 | ref = harv}} |
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* <!-- {{Sfn|Zijlstra|Groves|Dunkel|2011}} -->{{cite journal | last1 = Zijlstra | first1 = J. | last2 = Groves | first2 = C. | last3 = Dunkel | first3 = A. | year = 2011 | pages = 275–280 | title = Case 3563. ''Pachylemur'' Lamberton, 1948 (Primates, Lemuridae): proposed conservation of the generic name | journal = Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature | volume = 68 | issue = 4 | ref = harv}} |
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Revision as of 06:42, 12 February 2012
Charles Lamberton (fl. 1912 – 1956) was a French paleontologist who lived and studied on the island of Madagascar between 1927 and 1948 and specialized in the recently extinct subfossil lemurs. He made significant contributions towards fixing misattributions of skeletal remains and poor interpretations of subfossil lemur behavior. His paleontological expeditions during the 1930s led to the discovery of a new species of Mesopropithecus, a type of sloth lemur. Three species—one mammal and two reptiles—were named after him, although one is now considered a taxonomic synonym.
Career
Charles Lamberton, a French paleontologist, lived on the island of Madagascar between 1927 and 1948, during which time he was employed as a Professor at Gallieni College and as a Secretary for the Malagasy Academy.[1][2] During much of his career, which spanned from 1912 to 1956, he wrote extensively about the recently extinct, subfossil fauna of Madagascar.[1][2]
For nearly 50 years, Lamberton studied the subfossil lemurs, a group of extinct, giant lemurs that died out shortly after the arrival of humans to the island.[1] During the 1930s, Lamberton led several paleontological expeditions primarily to the southwest of Madagascar.[1][2][3] In 1936, based on cranial remains he had discovered, Lamberton named and described a species of sloth lemur, Mesopropithecus globiceps, which he initially placed under another genus.[3]
During the early 1900s, reconstructions of subfossil lemurs were poor interpretation due to misattributions of postcranial bones.[3] Although other paleontologists had begun correcting misattributed bones and issues of synonymy, Lamberton fixed more misattributions and poor interpretations of subfossil lemur remains than any other paleontologist. In 1947, he correctly identified the postcranial remains of the sloth lemur, Palaeopropithecus, which Guillaume Grandidier had mistakenly attributed to a giant tree sloth he called Bradytherium. Ten years later, in 1957, he wrote a crushing rebuttal to Italian paleontologist Guiseppe Sera by pointing out many skeletal misattributions and tactfully refuting his misinterpretation of the koala lemur (Megaladapis) as a ray-like swimmer and his fancifully creative "arboreal-aquatic acrobat" theory for Palaeopropithecus. Both Lamberton and British paleontologist Alice Carleton showed that Palaeopropithecus was suspensory, however, Carleton proposed that Palaeopropithecus was sloth-like, while Lamberton predicted locomotion more similar to that of an orangutan. It wasn't until the late 1900s that subfossil discoveries demonstrated that Palaeopropithecus was more sloth-like.[4]
Lamberton also corrected misattributions for Mesopropithecus made by Carleton, but failed to fix earlier misattributions for the largest of the extinct lemurs, Archaeoindris. However, these errors with Archaeoindris were not properly fixed until 1988.[5]
In 1948, Lamberton established the name Pachylemur for an extinct type of giant ruffed lemur as a subgenus of the genus Lemur, which then contained all the species of the family Lemuridae.[6] By 1979, Pachylemur was generally accepted as a valid genus.[7] However, the name Pachylemur had nomenclatural problems relating to the Principle of Homonymy, the Principle of Priority, and Lamberton's failure to select a type species. These problems could potentially render the name unavailable under the rules of zoological nomenclature.[8] To conserve the name Pachylemur, Jelle Zijlstra, Colin Groves, and Alex Dunkel submitted a petition to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature in 2011.[9]
Honors
Two species are named after Lamberton: the western red forest rat (Nesomys lambertoni) of western Madagascar,[2] and the Fito leaf chameleon (Brookesia lambertoni). The taxonomic synonym for the Carpet Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis), Chamaeleo lambertoni Angel, 1921, was also named after Lamberton.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Beolens, Watkins & Grayson 2011, pp. 149–150.
- ^ a b c d Beolens, Watkins & Grayson 2009, p. 234.
- ^ a b c Godfrey & Jungers 2003, p. 253.
- ^ Godfrey & Jungers 2003, pp. 254–256.
- ^ Godfrey & Jungers 2003, pp. 254–255.
- ^ Lamberton 1948, p. 7.
- ^ Zijlstra, Groves & Dunkel 2011, p. 277.
- ^ Zijlstra, Groves & Dunkel 2011, pp. 276–277.
- ^ Zijlstra, Groves & Dunkel 2011, p. 275.
Literature cited
- Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1421401355.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2009). The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0801893049.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi: 10.1002/evan.10123, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi= 10.1002/evan.10123instead. - Lamberton, C. (1948). "Contribution à la connaissance de la faune subfossile de Madagascar: Note XVII. Les Pachylémurs". Bulletin de l'Académie malgache. 27: 7–22.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Zijlstra, J.; Groves, C.; Dunkel, A. (2011). "Case 3563. Pachylemur Lamberton, 1948 (Primates, Lemuridae): proposed conservation of the generic name". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 68 (4): 275–280.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)