Palaeopropithecus

Palaeopropithecus
Temporal range: Quaternary
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Front view of P. maximus skull

Extinct (1620)  (IUCN 3.1)[2] (P. ingens)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: †Palaeopropithecidae
Genus: †Palaeopropithecus
G. Grandider, 1899
Species
Map of Madagascar, off the southeast coast of Africa, with two red dots in the north of the island, one blue dot near the middle, and fifteen green dots in the southwest and west parts of the island. There is also one blue explanation mark in the extreme northwest and a red explanation mark in the southwest.
Subfossil sites for Palaeopropithecus[3]
red=P. kelyus; green=P. ingens;
blue=P. maximus

Palaeopropithecus is a recently extinct genus of large sloth lemurs from Madagascar related to living lemur species found there today. Three species are known, Palaeopropithecus ingens, P. maximus, and P. kelyus. Radiocarbon dates indicate that they may have survived until around 1300–1620 CE. Malagasy legends of the tretretretre or tratratratra are thought to refer to P. ingens.

Evidence suggests a solely arboreal lifestyle with frequent upside down suspension, hence the name sloth lemur.[4]

  1. ^ Gommery, D.; Ramanivosoa, B.; Tombomiadana-Raveloson, S.; Randrianantenaina, H.; Kerloc'h, P. (2009). "A new species of giant subfossil lemur from the North-West of Madagascar (Palaeopropithecus kelyus, Primates)". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 8 (5): 471–480. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2009.02.001.
  2. ^ Godfrey, L. (2021). "Palaeopropithecus ingens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T136532A17971784. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T136532A17971784.en.
  3. ^ Godfrey, L.R.; Jungers, W.L. (2002). "Chapter 7: Quaternary fossil lemurs". In Hartwig, W.C. (ed.). The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press. pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0-521-66315-1.
  4. ^ Godfrey, Laurie R.; William L. Jungers. (2003). "The extinct sloth lemurs of Madagascar". Evolutionary Anthropology. 12 (6): 252–263. doi:10.1002/evan.10123. S2CID 4834725.