Lemur
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| Lemurs<ref name=MSW>{{MSW3 Groves{{#if:{{{status|}}}| {{#switch:{{{status}}}
| se|SECURE|Secure|secure=Conservation status: Secure | dom|DOMESTICATED|Domesticated|domesticated=Conservation status: Domesticated | data|DD|DATA=Conservation status: Data deficient | lr=Conservation status: Lower risk | lc|LR/LC|LR/lc|lr/lc|LRLC|LRlc|lrlc=Conservation status: Lower risk (lc) | LR/nt|lr/nt|LRNT|LRnt|lrnt|NT|nt=Conservation status: Lower risk (nt) | LR/cd|lr/cd|LRCD|LRcd|lrcd=Conservation status: Lower risk (cd) | vu=Conservation status: Vulnerable | en=Conservation status: Endangered | cr=Conservation status: Critical | ew=Conservation status: Extinct in the wild | ex|EXTINCT|Extinct|extinct=Conservation status: Extinct{{#if:{{{extinct|}}}| ({{{extinct}}}) }} | Fossil|fossil=Conservation status: Fossil | pre=Conservation status: Prehistoric | Text|TEXT=Conservation status: See text | {{{status}}} }}}}Template:Subtext}|contents=Fossil range: {{{fossil_range|}}} }} |
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| image = ring.tailed.lemur.600pix.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption =Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Primates | subordo = Strepsirrhini | infraordo = Lemuriformes | infraordo_authority = Gray, 1821 | subdivision_ranks = Superfamilies and Families |subdivision = *Cheirogaleoidea
}}
Lemurs are part of a class of primates known as prosimians, and make up the infraorder Lemuriformes. This type of primate was the evolutionary predecessor of monkeys and apes (simians). 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>Template:Cite web</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).
The small cheirogaleoids are generally omnivores, 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 lemuroids are primarily herbivores, 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 52 living lemur species. In some remote areas of Madagascar, the cultural motivation behind posting lemur hunting traps are that of indigenous superstition that lemurs are omens 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 Primate 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 haplorrhines, suggesting they split off from the other lemurs first. As such, the Cheirogaleoidea are a sister clade to the Lemuroidea.
- ORDER PRIMATES<ref name=MSW/>
- Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
- Infraorder Lemuriformes
- Superfamily Cheirogaleoidea
- Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf and mouse lemurs
- Superfamily Lemuroidea
- Family Lemuridae: lemurs
- Family Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
- Family Indriidae: woolly lemurs and allies
- Superfamily Cheirogaleoidea
- Infraorder Chiromyiformes
- Infraorder Lorisiformes
- Infraorder Lemuriformes
- Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes
- Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
References
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External links
Template:Commons Template:Wikispecies
- 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.
Image:Ruffed lemur.jpg Image:Red-ruffed.lemur.750pix.jpgde:Lemuren eo:Lemuro es:Lémur fr:Lemuriformes it:Lemuriformes mg:Maky nl:Lemuren pt:Lêmure simple:Lemur
