Lemuridae
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[Photo] Crowned Lemur (Eulemur coronatus). Daniel Montagnon PhD. E-Mail: Daniel.Montagnon@wanadoo.fr http://perso.wanadoo.fr/daniel.montagnon/

Lemuridae is one of the four families of lemurs and are part of a class of primates known as prosimians. These animals are the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes (simians).

Genus Lemur has only one member: Lemur catta, or the Ring-tailed Lemur. It is easily recognized by its black and white striped tail, and is found in many zoos.

Lemurs get their name from the Ancient Roman belief that they were ghosts or spirits. They were mistaken for specters (spirits) because many species are nocturnal.

Classification
ORDER PRIMATES
Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians

Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf and mouse lemurs
Family Lemuridae

Subfamily Lemurinae

Genus Lemur

Ring-tailed Lemur, Lemur catta




Genus Eulemur : brown lemurs

Black Lemur, Eulemur macaco
Common Brown Lemur, Eulemur fulvus
Sanford's Brown Lemur, Eulemur sanfordi
White-fronted Brown Lemur, Eulemur albifrons
Red-fronted Brown Lemur, Eulemur rufus
Collared Brown Lemur, Eulemur collaris
White-collared Brown Lemur, Eulemur albocollaris
Mongoose Lemur, Eulemur mongoz
Crowned Lemur, Eulemur coronatus
Red-bellied Lemur, Eulemur rubriventer


Genus Varecia : ruffed lemurs

Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Varecia variegata
Red Ruffed Lemur, Varecia rubra




Subfamily Hapalemurinae

Genus Hapalemur : lesser gentle or bamboo lemurs

Eastern Lesser Bamboo Lemur, Hapalemur griseus
Western Lesser Bamboo Lemur, Hapalemur occidentalis
Southern Lesser Bamboo Lemur, Hapalemur meridionalis
Lac Alaotra Gentle Lemur, Hapalemur alaotrensis
Golden Bamboo Lemur, Hapalemur aureus


Genus Prolemur

Greater Bamboo Lemur, Prolemur simus

Family Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
Family Indriidae: woolly lemurs and allies
Family Daubentoniidae: Aye-aye
Family Lorisidae: lorises, pottos and allies
Family Galagidae: galagos
Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuridae


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