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Head-Bobbing Lemur
Photograph by Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International
Meet the new rock star of Madagascar: a potentially new species of fork-marked lemur.
The creature's theatrics—an unusual head-bobbing and a loud, high-pitched call—helped scientists detect the lemur recently in Daraina, a protected area of northeastern Madagascar, Conservation International (CI) announced this week.
The squirrel-size critter was first spotted in 1995 by current CI president Russell Mittermeier, but it wasn't until October that a team including Mittermeier went back to the dry forests to look again—discovering one male, pictured. (Related: "Three New Lemurs Discovered, Add to Madagascar's Diversity.")
The animal has "a somewhat different color pattern" from the four other known fork-marked lemur species, all of which have black, Y-shaped lines that start above each eye and merge as a single line on top of the head. Genetic testing will reveal if the new lemur is indeed the fifth known fork-marked species.
"This is yet another remarkable discovery from the island of Madagascar, the world's highest priority biodiversity hot spot and one of the most extraordinary places in our planet," Mittermeier said in a statement.
"It is particularly remarkable that we continue to find new species of lemurs and many other plants and animals in this heavily impacted country, which has already lost 90 percent or more of its original vegetation."
Published December 15, 2010
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Sneaky Lemur
Photograph by Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International
Though the male lemur wasn't hard to locate, it proved harder to catch: Scientists had to run through the dense forest following the lemur's calls as it moved through the treetops.
Eventually a team member got a clean shot and tranquilized the adult male, which was sedated overnight and examined the following day (pictured). Scientists took the animal's blood and fitted the mammal with a microchip before returning it to its forest home. DNA testing will determine if the lemur is in fact a new species.
(See pictures of a scruffy new carnivore found recently in Madagascar.)
Published December 15, 2010
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Mysterious Tree Dweller
Photograph by Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International
The possibly new lemur, pictured in October, is well adapted for its tree-bound lifestyle, according to Conservation International. It has large hands and feet to easily grip trees, a long tongue to slurp up nectar, and some teeth specialized for biting into bark.
Little more is known about the creature, although CI scientists suspect it's likely an endangered or critically endangered species due to habitat loss.
(See "'Cross Dressing' Lemurs Appear Male to Avoid Conflict.")
Published December 15, 2010
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One in a Hundred
Photograph by Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International
The potentially new fork-marked lemur (pictured) would join the slightly more than a hundred known species of lemur, all of which exist only in Madagascar.
More than 40 new species have been discovered in the past decade, even though their forest habitats are being rapidly destroyed. (Related: "Lemurs Hunted, Eaten Amid Civil Unrest, Group Says.")
"There is a real sense of urgency to find and catalogue the lemurs that are left, but more importantly to save their habitats, which are the source of food and income for people," according to a Conservation International statement.
Published December 15, 2010
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Lemurs at a Loss
Photograph by Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International
Lemurs, including as the newfound fork-marked lemur (pictured), evolved in isolation from other primates on Madagascar. Scientists believe that lemurs' ancestors, which lived in southeastern Africa, accidentally traveled across the sea to Madagascar on rafts of vegetation.
Because the island country has many different habitats, each species has its own adaptations to survive in its particular niche, according to CI.
"Protection of Madagascar's remaining natural forests should be considered one of the world's highest conservation priorities," Mittermeier said. "These forests are home to an incredible array of species that are a true global heritage, and also provide an incalculable array of benefits to local communities in the form of clean water, foods and fibers, and other ecosystem services."
Published December 15, 2010
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