&sq=&lang=&file=File:Lemurs_of_Madagascar_3rd_ed.jpg) Third edition cover | |
| Author | Russell Mittermeier Edward E. Louis, Jr. Matthew Richardson Christoph Schwitzer et al. |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Stephen D. Nash |
| Language | English |
| Series | Tropical Field Guide Series |
| Genre | Field guide |
| Published |
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| Publisher | Conservation International |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 767 (Third edition) |
| ISBN | 978-1-934151-23-5 |
Lemurs of Madagascar is a 2010 reference work and field guide for the lemurs of Madagascar, giving descriptions and biogeographic data for the known species. The primary contributor is Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International, and the cover art and illustrations are drawn by Stephen D. Nash. Currently in its third edition, the book provides details about all known lemur species, general information about lemurs and their history, and tips for identifying species. Four related pocket field guides have also been released, containing color illustrations of each species, miniature range maps, and species checklists.
The first edition was reviewed favorably in the International Journal of Primatology, Conservation Biology, and Lemur News. Reviewers, including Alison Jolly, praised the book for its depth of coverage, illustrations, and discussion of topics including conservation, evolution, and the recently extinct subfossil lemurs. Each agreed that the book was an excellent resource for a wide audience, including ecotourists and lemur researchers. A lengthy review of the second edition was published in the American Journal of Primatology, where it received similar favorable comments. The third edition was reviewed favorably in Lemur News; the reviewer praised the expanded content of the book but was concerned that the edition was not as portable as its predecessors.
The first edition identified 50 lemur species and subspecies, compared to 71 in the second edition and 101 in the third. The taxonomy promoted by these books has been questioned by researchers, such as Ian Tattersall, who view these growing numbers of lemur species as insufficiently justified inflation of species numbers.