Sunday, November 15, 2009

What's the scientific name of the newly discovered lemur?

This lemur is found in the west as well as in the north of asia.

What's the scientific name of the newly discovered lemur?
I really searched on this one...found reference to Lemur fossils being found on all continents, but several articles similar to the one below are all I could find on the latest discoveries (in Madagascar)...I'll be watching this post to see if someone finds something about an Asian Lemur. Cute little guys, aren't they?





Madagascar, nicknamed the “8th Continent” because of its diversity of species, continues to reveal new secrets - and they do not get much cuter than this.





Biologists have discovered two new species of lemur, endangered primates that are ancestral to monkeys and apes, and that exist now only on the island. The finds bring the total number of known lemur species to 49.





The first discovery was made when scientists analysed morphological, genetic and behavioural data from distinct populations of what they thought was the giant mouse lemur. Peter Kappeler, of the German Primate Centre in Göttingen, Germany, found that the populations were actually different species and named the new one Mirza zaza.





Scratching the surface


The second new species (pictured) is a mouse lemur, identified by morphological and genetic analyses by Robert Zingg of Zoo Zürich in Switzerland. It has been named Microcebus lehilahytsara. Surprisingly, it was discovered in Andasibe, a protected area on the east of the island that is considered one of the biologically best-known sites in Madagascar.





"The discovery of these two new species highlights the fact that we still have a lot to learn about patterns and causes of biodiversity, even among our closest biological cousins," says Kappeler.
Reply:The scientific name is "Microcebus lehilahytsara" and the scientists who discovered it named it "lehilahytsara" is Malagasy for "good man".


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