The Lemurs
Lemurs are small primates known as “prosimians,” which, roughly translated, means “pre-primates” or “before monkeys.” Native only to the island of Madagascar and the neighboring Comoro Islands, lemurs resemble the oldest ancestors of primates which existed tens of millions of years ago.
Madagascar lacks the dominant form of primate distributed worldwide, those of the suborder Haplorhini (monkeys, chimps, gorillas, and Homo sapiens). Instead, their niche has been filled by an older group of primates, the lemurs. Lemurs belong to the suborder Strepsirhini together with bushbabies, lorises, and pottos which like the original lemurs.
There has been a recent major taxonomic revision of lemur groups, together with the discovery and description of several new species like the Microcebus jonahi new species found and published by Professor Jonah Ratsimbazafy in 2020.
Actually, 112 species of lemurs are spread within 15 genera and 05 families:
- Cheirogaleidae
- Lepilemuridae
- Lemuridae
- Indridae
- Daubentoniidae
All these 112 species are endemic to Madagascar (two lemur species were introduced to the Comoros) giving the country the highest number of primate species. Brazil has 77 species of primates but only two endemic genera and no endemic families, is second.
According of the IUCN Red List of Species (2015):
Ninety six (96) species were found to be threatened:
- 23 Critically Endangered
- 50 Endangered
- 20 Vulnerable
- 03 Near Threatened.
List and classifications of the Lemurs
N | Family | Species | Common name | Distribution - Habitat | Red List |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cheirogaleidae | Allocebus trichotis | Hairy-eared drawf lemur | NW | VU |
2 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus | Southern fat-tailed drawf lemur | SW | NT |
3 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus andysabini | Montagne d'Ambre dwarf lemur or Andy Sabin's dwarf lemur | Montagne d'Ambre | NT |
4 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus crossleyi | Crossleyi dwarf lemur (Furry-eared) | E, SE | DD |
5 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus lavasoensis | Lavasoa dwarf lemur | Lavasoa | NT |
6 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus major | Greater dwarf lemur | E, SE | DD |
7 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus medius | Fat-tailed dwarf lemur | N, W, SW | LC |
8 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus sibreei | Sibree's dwarf lemur | Fianarantsoa | CR |
9 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus shethi | Ankarana dwarf lemur or Sheth's dwarf lemur | N | NT |
10 | Cheirogaleidae | Cheirogaleus thomasi | Thomas' Dwarf Lemur | SE | NT |
11 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus arnholdi | Montagne d'Ambre mouse lemur | Montagne d'Ambre | EN |
12 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus berthae | Madame Berthe's mouse lemur | Menabe | EN |
13 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus bongolavensis | Bongolava mouse lemur | Port-Berge | EN |
14 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus boraha | Boraha mouse lemur | Isle Sainte Marie | NT |
15 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus danfossae | Danfoss' mouse lemur or Ambarijeby mouse lemur | NW | EN |
16 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus ganzhorni | Ganzhorn's mouse lemur | Mandena | NT |
17 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus gerpi | Gerp's mouse lemur | Sahafina | CR |
18 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus griseorufus | Gray-bown mouse lemur | SW, S | LC |
19 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus jollyae | Jolly's mouse lemur | Kianjavato | EN |
20 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus jonahi | Jonah's mouse lemur | NE | NT |
21 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus lehilahytsara | Goodman's mouse lemur | Tsinjoarivo, Mantadia | VU |
22 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus macarthurii | Anjiahely mouse lemur | Anjiahely | EN |
23 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus mamiratra | Nosy be mouse lemur | Nosy be | CR |
24 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus manitatra | Manitatra mouse lemur | Ambatotsirongorongo | NT |
25 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus margotmarshae | Margot Marsh's mouse lemur | Antafondoro | EN |
26 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus marohita | Marohita mouse lemur | Foret de Marohita | CR |
27 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus mittermeieri | Mittermeier's mouse lemur | Anjanaharibe Sud | EN |
28 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus murinus | Gray mouse lemur | SW, W, N, SE | LC |
29 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus myoxinus | Peters' mouse lemur | W | VU |
30 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus ravelobensis | Golden-brown mouse lemur | Mahajanga | EN |
31 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus rufus | Rufous mouse lemur | E | VU |
32 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus sambiranensis | Sambirano mouse lemur | Manongarivo | EN |
33 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus simmonsi | Simmons' mouse lemur | Betampona, Zahamena, Tampolo | EN |
34 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus tanosi | Tanosy mouse lemur | SE | NT |
35 | Cheirogaleidae | Microcebus tavaratra | Tavaratra mouse lemur | N | VU |
36 | Cheirogaleidae | Mirza coquereli | Coquerel's giant mouse lemur | W, SW | EN |
37 | Cheirogaleidae | Mirza zaza | Northern giant mouse lemur | NW | EN |
38 | Cheirogaleidae | Phaner electromontis | Amber mountain fork-marked lemur | N | EN |
39 | Cheirogaleidae | Phaner furcifer | Masoala fork-marked lemur (Eastern) | NE | VU |
40 | Cheirogaleidae | Phaner pallescens | Pale fork-marked lemur | W, NW | EN |
41 | Cheirogaleidae | Phaner parienti | Sambirano fork-marked lemur (Pariente's) | Sambirano | EN |
42 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur aeeclis | Antafia sportive lemur | Mitsinjo | VU |
43 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur ahmansonorum | Tsiombikibo sportive lemur | Tsiombikibo | EN |
44 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur ankaranensis | Ankarana sportive lemur (Northern) | N | EN |
45 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur betsileo | Betsileo sportive lemur | Fandriana | EN |
46 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur dorsalis | Grey sportive lemur (Grey-backed) | Sambirano | VU |
47 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur edwardsi | Milne-Edward's sportive lemur | Mahajanga | EN |
48 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur fleuretae | Andohahela sportive lemur | Andohahela | CR |
49 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur grewcockorum | Anjiamangirana sportive lemur | Anjiamangirana | EN |
50 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur hollandorum | Mananara-Nord sportive lemur | Mananara Nord | EN |
51 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur hubbardorum | Zombitse sportive lemur | Zombitse | EN |
52 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur jamesorum | Manombo sportive lemur | Manombo | CR |
53 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur leucopus | White-footed sportive lemur | Ambovombe | EN |
54 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur microdon | Small-toothed sportive lemur | SE | EN |
55 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur millanoii | Daraina sportive lemur | N | EN |
56 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur mittermeieri | Mittermeier's sportive lemur | Ampasindava | EN |
57 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur mustelinus | Weasel sportive lemur | Toamasina | NT |
58 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur otto | Ambodimahabibo sportive lemur | Ambodimahabibo | EN |
59 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur petteri | Petter's sportive lemur | Bezaha Mahafaly | VU |
60 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur randrianasoloi | Bemaraha sportive lemur | Bemaraha | EN |
61 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur ruficaudatus | Red-tailed sportive lemur | Belo Tsiribihina | VU |
62 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur sahamalazensis | Sahamalaza sportive lemur | Sahamalaza | CR |
63 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur scottorum | Masoala sportive lemur | Masoala | EN |
64 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur seali | Seal's sportive lemur | Anjanaharibe Sud | VU |
65 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur septentrionalis | Sahafary sportive lemur | Far/Extreme Nord | CR |
66 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur tymerlachsonorum | Nosy-be sportive lemur | Lokobe | CR |
67 | Cheirogaleidae | Lepilemur wrigthae | Wrigth's sportive lemur | Kalambatritra | EN |
68 | Lemuridae | Eulemur albifrons | White fronted brown lemur | NE | EN |
69 | Lemuridae | Eulemur cinereceips | White-collared brown lemur | SE | EN |
70 | Lemuridae | Eulemur collaris | Red-collared brown lemur | SE | EN |
71 | Lemuridae | Eulemur coronatus | Crowned lemur | N | EN |
72 | Lemuridae | Eulemur flavifrons | Blue-eyed Blac lemur | NW | CR |
73 | Lemuridae | Eulemur fulvus | Brown lemur | NE,E | NT |
74 | Lemuridae | Eulemur macaco | Blac lemur | N | VU |
75 | Lemuridae | Eulemur mongoz | Mongoose Lemur | NW | CR |
76 | Lemuridae | Eulemur rubriventer | Red-bellied lemur | E, N | VU |
77 | Lemuridae | Eulemur rufifrons | Red fronted brown lemur | E, W | NT |
78 | Lemuridae | Eulemur rufus | Rufous brown lemur | W, NW | VU |
79 | Lemuridae | Eulemur sanfordi | Sanford's brown lemur | N | EN |
80 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur alaotrensis | Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur | Lac Alaotra | CR |
81 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur aureus | Golden bamboo lemur | Ranomafana, Andringitra | CR |
82 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur griseus gilberti | Beanamalao bamboo lemur | E | EN |
83 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur griseus griseus | Gray bamboo lemur | E | VU |
84 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur griseus ranomafanensis | Ranomafana bamboo lemur | W | DD |
85 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur meridionalis | Southern bamboo lemur | SE | VU |
86 | Lemuridae | Hapalemur occidentalis | Nothern bamboo lemur | N, NE | VU |
87 | Lemuridae | Lemur catta | Ring-tailed lemur | SW | EN |
88 | Lemuridae | Prolemur simus | Greater bamboo lemur | E | CR |
89 | Lemuridae | Varecia rubra | Red-ruffed lemur | Masoala | CR |
90 | Lemuridae | Varecia variegata editorum | Southern black and white ruffed lemur | E, SE | CR |
91 | Lemuridae | Varecia variegata subcincta | Northern black and white ruffed lemur (White -belted) | NE, N | CR |
92 | Lemuridae | Varecia variegata variegata | Variegated black and white ruffed lemur | E | CR |
93 | Indridae | Avahi betsileo | Betsileo woolly-lemur | Fandriana | EN |
94 | Indridae | Avahi cleesei | Bemaraha woolly-lemur | Bemaraha | EN |
95 | Indridae | Avahi laniger | Eastern woolly-lemur | NE | VU |
96 | Indridae | Avahi meridionalis | Southern woolly-lemur | Mandena | EN |
97 | Indridae | Avahi mooreorum | Masoala woolly-lemur | Masoala | EN |
98 | Indridae | Avahi occidentalis | Western woolly-lemur | NW | EN |
99 | Indridae | Avahi peyrierasi | Peyriéras' woolly-lemur | SE | VU |
100 | Indridae | Avahi ramanantsoavanai | Manombo woolly-lemur | Manombo | VU |
101 | Indridae | Avahi unicolor | Sambirano woolly-lemur | Sambirano | EN |
102 | Indridae | Indri indri | Indri or Babakoto | E | CR |
103 | Indridae | Propithecus candidus | Silky sifaka | NE | CR |
104 | Indridae | Propithecus coquereli | Coquerel's sifaka | NW | EN |
105 | Indridae | Propithecus coronatus | Crowned sifaka | Ambararatabe | EN |
106 | Indridae | Propithecus deckenii | Decken's sifaka | Katsepy | EN |
107 | Indridae | Propithecus diadema | Diademed sifaka | Central Est | CR |
108 | Indridae | Propithecus edwardsi | Milne-Edwards'sifaka | SE | EN |
109 | Indridae | Propithecus perrieri | Perrier's sifaka | N | CR |
110 | Indridae | Propithecus tattersalli | Tattersall's sifaka (Golden-crowned) | Daraina | CR |
111 | Indridae | Propithecus verreauxi | Verraux's sifaka | S | EN |
112 | Daubentoniidae | Daubentonia madagascariensis | Aye-aye | E, N, NW | EN |
IUCN Red List:
CR: Critically Endangered (The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild)
EN: Endangered (The species is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild)
VU: Vulnerable (The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild)
NT: Near Threatened (The species does not currently qualify as being at high risk of extinction but it is likely to do so in the future)
LC: Least Concern (The species is not currently at risk of extinction in the wild)
DD: Data Deficient (There is inadequate information to assess the risk of extinction for this species)
NE: Not yet Evaluated
Distribution
* : Endemic species
**: Introduced species