Lemurs are one of the most well known of the Malagasy mammalian species. They are also amongst the most primitive of living primates. The study of lemurs allows scientists to learn all about primates life-story traits, behaviors, and ecological evolution. Many species of lemurs have been found during the two last decades.
The 71 species and subspecies of primates in Madagascar are all endemic. 63 per cent are threatened with extinction. 16 species of lemur species had disappeared during the past 2000 years. New species of lemurs are also being discovered. Recently, scientists have discovered the following list: thee Microcebus Sambiranensis, the Microcebus Barthae, the Microcebus Lehilahitsara, the Microcebus Tavaratra, the Microcebus Ravelobenis, the Cheriogaleus Minisculus, the Cheriogaleus Ravus, Mirza Zaza, and the Avahi Cleesei.
Lemurs are widely found in the rainforests and the dry forest of Madagascar but some species remain difficult to observe, like the Aye-Aye for example, which is found only in few distinct locations.
The largest of all lemurs is the Indri Indri
Head-body length: 64 to 72 cm
Tail: 5 cm
Weight: 6 kg to 9.5 kg
The smallest is the Microcebus:
Head-body size: between 12 and 16 cm
Total size incuding the tail: 24 to 30 cm
Weight: 40 to 90 g
The lemur of Madagascar is the only one with top highest primate conservation priority in the world. Its very high species diversity and its endemism at the species, genus and family level is merely unparalleled anywhere else, and this is all the more impressive given its relatively tiny surface compared to the other three landmasses where primates live. It is undeniable that Madagascar is so important for primates that it is considered one of the four biggest biogeographic regions for primates, together with South and Central America, mainland Africa, and Asia. At 581,540 km2, Madagascar’s total land area is only about 7% that of Brazil, the world’s richest country for primates, and yet its primate diversity is comparable and its endemism much higher.Above that, given that only 10% of Madagascar’s land area remains as proper primate habitat, the high concentration of unique species, genera, and families in a tiny area becomes even more extreme.
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SHORT LIST OF LEMURS
| Scientific name | Common name |
| Mirza coquereli | Coquerel’s giant mouse lemur |
| Mirza zaza | Northern giant mouse lemur |
| Phaner pallescens | Pale fork-marked lemur |
| Phaner parienti | Sambirano fork-marked lemur |
| Phaner electromontis | Montagne d’Ambre fork-marked lemur |
| Lepilemur betsileo | Betsileo sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur microdon | Small-toothed sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur wrightae | Wright’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur hollandorum | Holland’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur scottorum | Scott’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur milanoii | Daraina sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur ankaranensis | Ankarana sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur mittermeieri | Mittermeier’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur grewcockorum | Grewcock’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur otto | Otto’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur edwardsi | Milne-Edwards’ sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur ahmansonorum | Ahmanson’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur randrianasoloi | Randrianasolo’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur hubbardorum | Hubbard’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur leucopus | White-footed sportive lemur |
| Hapalemur griseus ssp. gilberti | Gilbert’s grey bamboo lemur |
| Lemur catta | Ring-tailed lemur |
| Eulemur albifrons | White-fronted brown lemur |
| Eulemur sanfordi | Sanford’s brown lemur |
| Eulemur collaris | Collared brown lemur |
| Eulemur coronatus | Crowned lemur |
| Avahi mooreorum | Moore’s woolly lemur |
| Avahi betsileo | Betsileo woolly lemur |
| Avahi meridionalis | Southern woolly lemur |
| Avahi occidentalis | Western woolly lemur |
| Avahi cleesei | Cleese’s woolly lemur |
| Avahi unicolor | Sambirano woolly lemur |
| Propithecus verreauxi | Verreaux’s sifaka |
| Propithecus deckenii | Decken’s sifaka |
| Propithecus coronatus | Crowned sifaka |
| Propithecus coquereli | Coquerel’s sifaka |
| Propithecus edwardsi | Milne-Edwards’ sifaka |
| Daubentonia madagascariensis | Aye aye |
| Microcebus myoxinus | Pygmy mouse lemur |
| Microcebus tavaratra | Tavaratra mouse lemur |
| Microcebus rufus | Red mouse lemur |
| Microcebus lehilahytsara | Goodman’s mouse lemur |
| Allocebus trichotis | Hairy-eared mouse lemur |
| Phaner furcifer | Masoala fork-marked lemur |
| Lepilemur seali | Seal’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur dorsalis | Grey-backed sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur aeeclis | AEECL’s sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur ruficaudatus | Red-tailed sportive lemur |
| Lepilemur petteri | Petter’s sportive lemur |
| Hapalemur griseus | |
| Hapalemur griseus ssp. griseus | Grey bamboo lemur |
| Hapalemur meridionalis | Southern bamboo lemur |
| Hapalemur occidentalis | Northern bamboo lemur |
| Eulemur rufus | Rufous brown lemur |
| Eulemur macaco | Black lemur |
| Eulemur rubriventer | Red-bellied lemur |
| Avahi laniger | Eastern woolly lemur |
| Avahi peyrierasi | Peyrieras’ woolly lemur |
| Avahi ramanantsoavanai | Ramanantsoavana’s woolly lemur |
| Lepilemur mustelinus | Weasel sportive lemur |
| Eulemur fulvus | Common brown lemur |
| Eulemur rufifrons | Red-fronted brown lemur |
| Microcebus murinus | Common mouse lemur |
| Microcebus griseorufus | Grey-brown mouse lemur |
| Cheirogaleus medius | Fat-tailed dwarf lemur |
| Cheirogaleus major | Greater dwarf lemur |
| Cheirogaleus crossleyi | Crossley’s dwarf lemur |
| Cheirogaleus minusculus | Lesser iron-grey dwarf lemur |
