The island nation of Madagascar is the endemic home of many species of lemurs, a member of our Primate Order. They evolved separately from our immediate ancestors, anthropoid apes, but they do have digits instead of claws. Unfortunately these interesting very distant relatives are under threat from deforestation. A species of lemur believed to be new to science has been located in the dry forests of northeastern region of Daraina, a protected area. First spotted in 1995, it has been now being formally described by Dr. Russ Mittermeier.
[photo credit] The new lemur is about the size of a squirrel. Both Dr. Mittermeyer and his associate Dr. Ed Luis from Omaha's Henry Doorley Zoo would like to name the lemur after the NGO that is most responsible for protecting Daraina. Sixty-three new species of primates including 42 species of lemurs have been discovered world-wide in the last decade. Each lemur species has unique adaptations to survive in its particular island niche, an example of evolutionary radiation similar to that exhibited by Darwin's finches.
