Palaeopropithecus
| Palaeopropithecus Temporal range: Holocene
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| Life restoration of Palaeopropithecus ingens | |
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| Genus: | †Palaeopropithecus
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†P. ingens (G. Grandider, 1899) | |
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| Subfossil sites for Palaeopropithecus[2] red = P. kelyus; green = P. ingens; blue = P. maximus | |
The large sloth lemurs (genus Palaeopropithecus) were one of three recently extinct genera of sloth lemur that was found on Madagascar, and were closely related to living lemur species found there today. There were three known species, Palaeopropithecus ingens, P. maximus, and P. kelyus. New radiocarbon dates indicate that the large sloth lemurs may have still been living around 1500 CE. It is thought that Palaeopropithecus ingens is mentioned in Malagasy legends as the tretretretre or tratratratra.
Morphology
This species had a dental formula of 2.1.2.32.0.2.3. The large sloth lemur had lower incisors which were small and vertical and the lower incisors of this species were spatulate. The molars of this species were narrow and had well-developed shearing crests (Fleagle, 1988). The large sloth lemur had a relatively robust skull and a relatively long snout as compared to extinct indriids. A mandibular symphysis was present and it had a tubular meatus which extended laterally from the tympanic ring which also differs from extinct indriids. The forelimbs were longer than the hind limbs which is in opposition to extinct indriids which had long hind limbs. On the manus the pollex was short and the phalanges were long and curved and the large sloth lemur had an intermembral index of 138.
Diet
Due to the large sloth lemur's dental morphology this was a folivorous species.[citation needed]
Locomotion
The large sloth lemur was long believed to be an aquatic creature, swimming with its eyes, ears and nostrils just above the water. However, this theory was based on misattributed postcranial remains. Charles Lamberton thoroughly refuted this in 1957. Fossils previously assigned to crania of other species were then reassigned to Palaeopropithecus. Postcranial evidence suggests a highly arboreal lifestyle with suspension locomotion, hence the name sloth lemur.[3]
References
- ^ Gommery, D.; Ramanivosoa, B.; Tombomiadana-Raveloson, S.; Randrianantenaina, H.; Kerloc’h, P. (2009), "A new species of giant subfossil lemur from the North-West of Madagascar (Palaeopropithecus kelyus, Primates)", Comptes Rendus Palevol, 3 (5): 471–480, doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2009.02.001
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|laydate=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|laysummary=ignored (help) - ^ Godfrey, L.R.; Jungers, W.L. (2002). "Chapter 7: Quaternary fossil lemurs". The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press. pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0521663151.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|editor_first1=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|editor_last1=ignored (help) - ^ Godfrey, Laurie R., William L. Jungers. (2003). "The extinct sloth lemurs of Madagascar". Evolutionary Anthropology. 12: 252–263. doi:10.1002/evan.10123.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Fleagle, J.G. 1988. Primate Adaptation and Evolution. Academic Press: New York.
- Martin, R.D. 1990. Primate Origins and Evolution: A Phylogenetic Reconstruction. Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey.