Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Ordo: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Cohort: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Primates
Subordo: Strepsirrhini
Infraordo: Lemuriformes
Superfamilia: Lemuroidea
Familia: Lepilemuridae
Genus: Lepilemur
Species (26): L. aeeclis – L. ahmansonorum – L. ankaranensis – L. betsileo – L. dorsalis – L. edwardsi – L. fleuretae – L. grewcockorum – L. hollandorum – L. hubbardorum – L. jamesorum – L. leucopus – L. microdon – L. milanoii – L. mittermeieri – L. mustelinus – L. otto – L. petteri – L. randrianasoloi – L. ruficaudatus – L. sahamalazensis – L. scottorum – L. seali – L. septentrionalis – L. tymerlachsonorum – L. wrightae
Name
Lepilemur I. Geoffroy, 1851
Type species: Lepilemur mustelinus I. Geoffroy, 1851
Synonyms
Galeocebus Wagner, 1855
Lepidilemur Giebel, 1859
Mixocebus Peters, 1874
Primary references
Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I. 1851. Catalogue méthodique de la collection des mammifères, de la collection des oiseaux et des collections annexes. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. p. 75.
References
Lepilemur in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Garbutt, N. 2007. Mammals of Madagascar, A Complete Guide. A&C Black Publishers. ISBN 978-0-300-12550-4
Mittermeier, R.A.; Tattersall, I.; Konstant, W.R.; Meyers, D.M.; Mast, R.B. 1994. Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (1st ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 1-881173-08-9
Mittermeier, R.A.; Konstant, W.R.; Hawkins, F.; Louis, E.E.; Langrand, O.; Ratsimbazafy, J.; Rasoloarison, R.; Ganzhorn, J.U. et al. 2006. Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (2nd ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 1-881173-88-7
Mittermeier, R.A.; Louis, E.E.; Richardson, M.; Schwitzer, C.; Langrand, O.; Rylands, A.B.; Hawkins, F.; Rajaobelina, S. et al. 2010. Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (3rd ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 978-1-934151-23-5
Andriaholinirina, N.; Fausser, J.-L.; Roos, C.; Zinner, D.; Thalmann, U.; Rabarivola, C.; Ravoarimanana, I.; Ganzhorn, J.U.; Meier, B.; Hilgartner, R.; Walter, L.; Zaramody, A.; Langer, C.; Hahn, T.; Zimmermann, E.; Radespiel, U.; Craul, M.; Tomiuk, J.; Tattersall, I.; Rumpler, Y. 2006. Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates). BMC Evolutionary Biology 6 (17): 1–13. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-6-17
Louis, E.E., jr. et al. 2006: Molecular and morphological analyses of the sportive lemurs (family Megaladapidae: genus Lepilemur) reveals 11 previously unrecognized species. Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University, (49) Full publication (PDF) Reference page.
Rabarivola, C.; Zaramody, A.; Fausser, J.-L.; Andriaholinirina, N.; Roos, C.; Zinner, C.; Marcel, H.; Rumpler, Y. 2006. Cytogenetic and molecular characteristics of a new species of sportive lemur from Northern Madagascar. Lemur News 11: 45–49.
Craul, M.; Zimmermann, E.; Rasoloharijaona, S.; Randrianambinina, B.; Radespiel, U. 2007. Unexpected species diversity of Malagasy primates (Lepilemur spp.) in the same biogeographical zone: a morphological and molecular approach with the description of two new species. BMC Evolutionary Biology 7: 83. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-7-83
Tattersall, I. 2007. Madagascar's Lemurs: Cryptic diversity of taxonomic inflation. Evolutionary Anthropology 16: 12–23. DOI: 10.1002/evan.20126
Lei, R.; Engberg, S.E.; Andriantompohavana, R.; McGuire, S.M.; Mittermeier, R.A.; Zaonarivelo, J.R.; Brenneman, R.A.; Louis Jr., E.E. 2008. Nocturnal Lemur Diversity at Masoala National Park". Special Publications of the Museum of Texas Tech University 53: 1–48.
Mittermeier, R.; Ganzhorn, J.; Konstant, W.; Glander, K.; Tattersall, I.; Groves, C.; Rylands, A.; Hapke, A.; Ratsimbazafy, J.; Mayor, M.; Louis, E.; Rumpler, Y.; Schwitzer, C.; Rasoloarison, R. 2008. Lemur Diversity in Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology 29 (6): 1607–1656. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-008-9317-y
Ramaromilanto, B.; Lei, R.; Engberg, S.E.; Johnson, S.E.; Sitzmann, B.D.; Louis, E.E. Jr. 2009. Description of a new sportive lemur, Holland’s or Mananara-Nord sportive lemur, from Mananara-Nord Biosphere Reserve, Madagascar. Museum of Texas Tech University 286: 1–22
Vernacular names
magyar: Fürgemaki
русский: Игривые лемуры или Лепилемуры
The sportive lemurs are the medium-sized primates that make up the family Lepilemuridae. The family consists of only one extant genus, Lepilemur. They are closely related to the other lemurs and exclusively live on the island of Madagascar. For a time, this family was named Megaladapidae, but the current name was given precedence since the extinct genus Megaladapis was removed from the family.
Etymology
French zoologist Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire first described the genus Lepilemur in 1851, prefixing the existing genus Lemur with the Latin lepidus ("pleasant" or "pretty"). However, it was erroneously spelled—a mistake later authors unsuccessfully attempted to correct to Lepidolemur. Members of the monogeneric family Lepilemuridae are referred to as either sportive or weasel lemurs. "Sportive lemur", which is more commonly used, was coined by Henry Ogg Forbes in 1894. Though he did not explain the name choice, he did mention the agility of Lepilemur. "Weasel lemur" is an older common name, dating to the 1863 publication of Cassell's Popular National History. Dunkel et al. speculated that was inspired by the species name L. mustelinus, which means "weasel-like" in Latin.[4] They were named weasel lemurs for their swiftness like that of mustelids.
Classification
Family Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
Genus Lepilemur
AEECL's sportive lemur (Lepilemur aeeclis)[5]
Ahmanson's sportive lemur (Lepilemur ahmansonorum)[6]
Ankarana sportive lemur (Lepilemur ankaranensis)
Betsileo sportive lemur (Lepilemur betsileo)[6]
Gray-backed sportive lemur (Lepilemur dorsalis)
Milne-Edwards' sportive lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)
Fleurete's sportive lemur (Lepilemur fleuretae)[6]
Grewcock's sportive lemur (Lepilemur grewcockorum)[6]
Holland's sportive lemur (Lepilemur hollandorum)[7]
Hubbard's sportive lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum)[6]
James' sportive lemur (Lepilemur jamesorum)[6]
White-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus)
Small-toothed sportive lemur (Lepilemur microdon)
Daraina sportive lemur (Lepilemur milanoii)[6]
Mittermeier's sportive lemur (Lepilemur mittermeieri)
Weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus)
Otto's sportive lemur (Lepilemur otto)[8]
Petter's sportive lemur (Lepilemur petteri)[6]
Randrianasolo's sportive lemur (Lepilemur randrianasoloi)[5]
Red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus)
Sahamalaza sportive lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis)[5]
Scott's sportive lemur (Lepilemur scottorum)[9]
Seal's sportive lemur (Lepilemur seali)[6]
Northern sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis)
Hawks' sportive lemur (Lepilemur tymerlachsoni)[6]
Wright's sportive lemur (Lepilemur wrightae)[6]
Physical characteristics
Randrianasolo's sportive lemur
Their fur is grey brown or reddish colored on the top and whitish yellow underneath. They typically have a short head with large, round ears. They grow to a length of 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) (with a tail just about as long as their body) and weigh up to 0.9 kg (2 lb). Their eyes have a tapetum lucidum behind the retina, hence they have eyeshine.
Behaviour and ecology
Sportive lemurs are strictly nocturnal and predominantly arboreal, moving among the trees with long jumps powered by their strong hind legs. On the ground, they hop similarly to the kangaroo. During the day they hide in leafy covering or tree hollows. Sportive lemurs are mostly solitary and defend their territory against same sex intruders. The territories of males and females can overlap.
They are mainly herbivores and their diet consists predominantly of leaves.
Birthing happens between September and December after a gestation of 120 to 150 days, and is usually of a single young which is often reared in a nest in a tree hollow. At about four months the juveniles are weaned but remain with their mother up to an age of one year. At about 18 months they are fully mature, and live to be about eight years old.
References
Groves, C. P. (2005). "Family Lepilemuridae". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 117–119. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
"Checklist of CITES Species". CITES. UNEP-WCMC. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
"IUCN 2014". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2012. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
Dunkel, A.R.; Zijlstra, J.S.; Groves, C.P. (2012). "Giant rabbits, marmosets, and British comedies: etymology of lemur names, part 1" (PDF). Lemur News. 16: 64–70. ISSN 1608-1439.
Andriaholinirina, N., Fausser, J., Roos, C., Rumpler, Y. et al. (23 February 2006). "Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates)". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 6: 17. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-6-17. PMC 1397877. PMID 16504080.
Louis, Jr., E.E.; Engberg, S.E.; Lei, R.; Geng, H.; Sommer, J.A.; Ramaromilanto, R.; Randriamanana, J.C.; Zaonarivelo, J.R.; Andriantompohavana, R.; Randria, G.; Prosper; Ramaromilanto, B.; Rakotoarisoa, G.; Rooney, A.; Brenneman, R.A. (2006). "Molecular and morphological analyses of the sportive lemurs (Family Megaladapidae: Genus Lepilemur) reveals 11 previously unrecognized species" (PDF). Texas Tech University. Special Publications. 49: 1–49.
B. Ramaromilanto, R. Lei, S.E. Engberg, S.E. Johnson, B.D. Sitzmann, and E.E. Louis, Jr. (8 April 2009). "Sportive lemur diversity at Mananara -Norb biosphere reserve, Madagascar" (PDF). Occasional Papers. Museum of Texas Tech University. pp. 1–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2009. "Description of a new sportive lemur, Holland's or Mananara-Nord sportive lemur"
Mathias Craul, Elke Zimmermann, Solofo Rasoloharijaona, Blanchard Randrianambinina and Ute Radespiel (31 May 2007). "Unexpected species diversity of Malagasy primates (Lepilemur spp.) in the same biogeographical zone: A morphological and molecular approach with the description of two new species". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 7: 83. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-83. PMC 1913500. PMID 17540016.
Palmer, Jane (21 February 2008). "Henry Doorly Zoo scientists identify two new lemur species". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
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