Archaeolemur

Archaeolemur
Temporal range: Holocene
Archaeolemur majori skulls
Extinct (1047-1280)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: †Archaeolemuridae
Genus: †Archaeolemur
Filhol, 1895
Species
  • †Archaeolemur edwardsi (Filhol, 1895)
  • †Archaeolemur majori
Filhol, 1895
Synonyms[1]

Archaeolemur is an extinct genus of subfossil lemurs known from the Holocene epoch of Madagascar.[2] Archaeolemur is one of the most common and well-known of the extinct giant lemurs as hundreds of its bones have been discovered in fossil deposits across the island.[3][4] It was larger than any extant lemur, with a body mass of approximately 18.2–26.5 kg (40–58 lb), and is commonly reconstructed as the most frugivorous and terrestrial of the fossil Malagasy primates.[5] Colloquially known as a "monkey lemur," Archaeolemur has often been compared with anthropoids, specifically the cercopithecines, due to various morphological convergences.[3][4] In fact, it was even misidentified as a monkey when remains were first discovered.[3] Following human arrival to Madagascar just over 2000 years ago, many of the island’s megafauna went extinct, including the giant lemurs. Radiocarbon dating indicates that Archaeolemur survived on Madagascar until at least 1040-1290 AD, outliving most other subfossil lemurs.[2][6]

  1. ^ McKenna, MC; Bell, SK (1997). Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press. p. 335. ISBN 978-0-231-11013-6.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference jungers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference king was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Fleagle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Crowley was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Burney was invoked but never defined (see the help page).