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Archaeoindris fontoynontii is an extinct giant lemur and the largest primate known to have evolved on Madagascar, comparable in size to a male gorilla.It belonged to a family of extinct lemurs known as "sloth lemurs" (Palaeopropithecidae) and, because of its extremely large size, it has been compared to the ground sloths that once roamed North and South America.
Megaladapis, informally known as the koala lemur, [1] [2] is an extinct genus of lemurs belonging to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three species that once inhabited the island of Madagascar. The largest measured between 1.3 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft) in length.
Although only the indriids are alive today and represent only a small percentage of the living lemur species, this clade collectively contained the majority of the extinct giant lemur species. [6] [8] Radiocarbon dating of multiple subfossil specimens shows that the giant subfossil lemurs were present on the island until after human arrival ...
Genus Cheirogaleus (dwarf lemurs): ten species; Genus Microcebus (mouse lemurs): twenty-four species; Genus Mirza (giant mouse lemurs): two species; Genus Phaner (fork-marked lemurs): four species; Family Daubentoniidae. Genus Daubentonia (aye-aye): one species; Family Indriidae. Genus Avahi (woolly lemurs): nine species; Genus Indri (indri ...
Like many other species of lemur, indri live in a female dominant society. The dominant female often will displace males to lower branches and poorer feeding grounds, and is typically the one to lead the group during travel. [22] It is common for groups to move 300–700 m daily, with most distance travelled midsummer in search of fruit.
Since the arrival of humans on the island around 2,000 years ago, over a dozen species of "giant lemurs" larger than living lemur species have become extinct, including the gorilla-sized Archaeoindris. Lemurs share many common basal primate traits, such as divergent digits on their hands and feet, and nails instead of claws (in most species).
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. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] 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 ...
The northern giant mouse lemur (Mirza zaza), or northern dwarf lemur, is a species of lemur discovered in 2005. [3] They are part of the primate order, and classified in the family Cheirogaleidae. Previously, both populations of giant mouse lemurs were believed to belong to one species.