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Lemur Diversity in Madagascar

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Abstract

A basic understanding of the taxonomy, diversity, and distributions of primates is essential for their conservation. This review of the status of the taxonomy of lemurs is based on a 5-d workshop entitled “Primate Taxonomy for the New Millennium,” held at the Disney Institute, Orlando, Florida, in February 2000. The aim is not to present a taxonomic revision, but to review our current understanding of the diversity and current and past ranges of lemurs and indicate where there is controversy, discrepancy, or lack of knowledge. Our goal therefore is to provide a baseline for future taxonomic investigation, as well as a clearer focus for research and conservation priorities. We here focus on the lemurs of Madagascar and recognize 5 families, 15 genera, and 99 species and subspecies. We list 39 species of lemurs described since 2000: 2 dwarf lemurs, Cheirogaleus; 11 mouse lemurs, Microcebus; a giant mouse lemur, Mirza; a bamboo lemur, Hapalemur; 17 sportive lemurs, Lepilemur; and 7 woolly lemurs, Avahi. Taxonomic revisions have resulted in the resurrection of a further 9 taxa. However, the figures do not represent the total diversity of Malagasy lemurs because more new species are being identified via new field studies and accompanying genetic research, and should be described in the near future.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Douglas Brandon-Jones for his expert advice on a number of aspects of the taxonomy of the lemurs. We also thank the Disney Institute, Orlando, Florida, and especially Kim Sams, Rick Barongi, and Anne Savage, for hosting the original IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group workshop “Primate Taxonomy for the New Millennium,” February 25–29, 2000. Numerous people most kindly provided excellent suggestions, advice and insights, and unpublished information during post-workshop discussions concerning particular genera, especially Nicole Andriaholinirina, Rick Brenneman, Frank Hawkins, Mitchell Irwin, Steig Johnson, William Jungers, Olivier Langrand, and Stephen Nash.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Conservation International, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA

    Russell A. Mittermeier

  2. Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation, Hamburg University, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    Jörg U. Ganzhorn & Andreas Hapke

  3. Houston Zoological Gardens, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    William R. Konstant

  4. Biological Anthropology and Anatomy Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27705, USA

    Kenneth Glander

  5. Department of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA

    Ian Tattersall

  6. Archaeology and Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Colin P. Groves

  7. Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA

    Anthony B. Rylands

  8. Institut für Anthropologie, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    Andreas Hapke

  9. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - Madagascar, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar

    Jonah Ratsimbazafy

  10. Department of Anthropology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Mireya I. Mayor

  11. National Geographic, Washington, DC, 20036, USA

    Mireya I. Mayor

  12. Center for Conservation and Research, Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE, 68107, USA

    Edward E. Louis Jr.

  13. Faculté de Médecine, Institut d’Embryologie, Université Louis Pasteur, EA3428, Strasbourg, France

    Yves Rumpler

  14. Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA, England

    Christoph Schwitzer

  15. Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, 101, Madagascar

    Rodin M. Rasoloarison

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  1. Russell A. Mittermeier
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  2. Jörg U. Ganzhorn
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  4. Kenneth Glander
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  14. Rodin M. Rasoloarison
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Correspondence to Anthony B. Rylands.

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Mittermeier, R.A., Ganzhorn, J.U., Konstant, W.R. et al. Lemur Diversity in Madagascar. Int J Primatol 29, 1607–1656 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-008-9317-y

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