Strepsirrhini Primates

An overview of the suborder Strepsirrhini. Not comprehensive, but just enough.

key strepsirrhine traits

• rhinarium

• tapetum lucidum

• toothcomb

• grooming claw (except for aye-ayes)

• postorbital bar

mouse lemurs

Family: Cheirogaleidae

• nocturnal

• small body size

• arboreal quadruped

• fat stores in the tail to cope with seasonal change

aye-aye

Family: Daubentoniidae

• nocturnal

• claw-like nails

• long middle finger

• ever-growing incisors

• largest brain of all the lemurs

• slow life history

ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

Family: Lemuridae

• diurnal

• large multi-male, multi-female groups

• semi-terrestrial

• dry seasonal environment

• female dominance for food resource distribution

Hapalemur (“bamboo lemurs”)

Family: Lemuridae

• diurnal

• VCL locomotion

• robust jaw & teeth to eat a variety of bamboo, including poisonous bamboo

• smallest of the diurnal lemurs

Eulemur macaco (“black lemur”)

Family: Lemuridae

Indri

Family: Indriidae

• diurnal

• largest of all the lemurs in Lemuriformes

• found only in rainforests

• VCL locomotion

• very short tails

• monogamous territorial calls

Propithecus (“sifaka”)

Family: Indriidae

• diurnal

• VCL locomotion

• folivore

• found in dry forests or rainforests

pottos

Family: Lorisidae

• nocturnal

• found in Africa

• heavy neck muscles, strong cervical vertebrae

• insectivore

• slow arboreal

loris

Family: Lorisidae

• nocturnal

• found in Asia

• no tail

• slow arboreal quadruped

• toxic saliva as anti-predation adaptation

• insectivore

galago (“lesser bushbaby”)

Family: Galagidae

• nocturnal with focus on derived traits

• found only in sub-Saharan Africa

• VCL locomotion

• scent marking

• variety of vocalizations

• small body size due to phyletic dwarfism

otolemur (“greater bushbaby”)

Family: Galagidae

• nocturnal with focus on derived traits

• found only in sub-Saharan Africa

• VCL locomotion

• scent marking

• variety of vocalizations

• large body size

Rafting Hypothesis

Lemurs traveled from mainland Africa to Madagascar 55 Ma by using boats made from vegetation. Upon arrival, lemurs explored wide range of niches through adaptive radiation, splitting into nocturnal and diurnal factions.

Humans and Lemurs on Madagascar

Human arrival to Madagascar paired with drastic change in climate over time caused the extinction of Megalemurs. Today, humans unintentionally transmit diseases to ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas because of intense sympatry.