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n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 06:07 PM Apr 2016

Three new primate species discovered in Madagascar

Scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Kentucky, the American Duke Lemur Center and the Université d'Antananarivo in Madagascar have described three new species of mouse lemurs. They live in the South and East of Madagascar and increase the number of known mouse lemur species to 24. As little as 20 years ago, only two species of these small, nocturnal primates were known. New genetic methods and expeditions to remote areas have made the new descriptions possible.

Mouse lemurs are small, nocturnal primates, which are only found in Madagascar -- and they all look very similar with their brown fur and large eyes. Different species can be distinguished reliably only by means of genetic methods. However, how great the difference between two populations has to be to define it as a new species is a source of continuous discussion. "By using new, objective methods to assess genetic differences between individuals, we were able to find independent evidence that these three mouse lemurs represent new species," says Peter Kappeler, Head of the Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit at the German Primate Center. In addition, the analysis confirmed the status of the previously described 21 species. "The genetic techniques we used could facilitate species identification, thus also contributing to further new descriptions in other animal groups," says Peter Kappeler.

Only three years ago, the same research groups had described two new mouse lemur species. The closely related 30g Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest primate in the world. Scientists from the German Primate Center discovered it in 1993. Besides improved analytical methods, expeditions to remote and inaccessible forests contribute to the fact that the diversity of these distant relatives of humans becomes better known. "To know the exact distribution area of individual species is necessary to identify functioning protected areas," says Peter Kappeler, who has conducted research at the field station of the German Primate Center in Madagascar for more than 20 years. "Furthermore, this new information is an important element towards better understanding how biodiversity on Madagascar arose."

Ganzhorn's mouse lemur (Microcebus ganzhorni) was named after the ecologist Professor Jörg Ganzhorn from Hamburg University, who has been engaged in research and protection of lemurs for decades. It was Ganzhorn who initiated the field research of the German Primate Center in Madagascar in the 1990s. Also in the Southeast of the "Big Island" Microcebus manitatra is to be found, whose name symbolizes the expansion of the range of a subgroup from western Madagascar. The third member, Microcebus boraha, is named after its location on the Island of Sainte Marie (in Malagasy Nosy Boraha).

more

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160415081840.htm

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Three new primate species discovered in Madagascar (Original Post) n2doc Apr 2016 OP
If this mouse lemur evolved from other primates.... AZ Mike Apr 2016 #1
! eShirl Apr 2016 #4
Hah awoke_in_2003 Apr 2016 #6
Cool! 2naSalit Apr 2016 #2
So interesting to see the diversity of fauna stemming from a single clade of mammals Scootaloo Apr 2016 #3
Reminds me of "After Man: A Zoology of the Future" book I saw as a kid NickB79 Apr 2016 #8
Shut. Down. Everything. TalkingDog Apr 2016 #5
Beautiful tiny critters. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Apr 2016 #7
 

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)
6. Hah
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 08:30 PM
Apr 2016

seriously, they have an "answer" to species diversity in creationism. There was a period of "super-evolution" that took place after the flood, when god killed just about everything

on edit: In case you want to be dumbstruck

 

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)
3. So interesting to see the diversity of fauna stemming from a single clade of mammals
Fri Apr 15, 2016, 06:34 PM
Apr 2016

Kind of makes me wonder - if lemurs hadn't floated over,would bats have taken up those spots? 'cause sure as heck ratites weren't going to do it.

An island full of flightless bats of all stripes... sounds neat! ...More likely that parrots or pigeons would have tken up the diversity flag, I suppose, as they've done all across the indian and pacific.

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