A new species of Mesopropithecus (Primates, Palaeopropithecidae) from Northern Madagascar |
| |
Authors: | Elwyn L. Simons Laurie R. Godfrey William L. Jungers Prithijit S. Chatrath Jeannette Ravaoarisoa |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Duke University Primate Center, 3705 Erwin Road, 27705-5000 Durham, North Carolina;(2) Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Machmer Hall, Box 34805, 01003-4805 Amherst, Massachusetts;(3) Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, SUNY at Stony Brook, 11794-8081 Stony Brook, New York;(4) The Peregrine Fund, B.P. 4113, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar |
| |
Abstract: | We diagnose new subfossil specimens belonging to the extinct palaeopropithecid, Mesopropithecus,from several caves at the Ankarana massif in northern Madagascar. They include three partial crania with mandibles, and the first vertebrae, ribs, clavicle, pelvis, ulna, and hand and foot bones of Mesopropithecusever found. Several other postcranial elements are known for this northern variant of Mesopropithecusand for previously described species from central and southern Madagascar. The new materials cannot be accommodated in either currently recognized species of this genus and are,hereby, given the name Mesopropithecus dolichobrachion. M. dolichobrachionis the second new species of extinct subfossil lemur to be found in the caves of Ankarana. It is unlike the two previously described species of this genus primarily in its larger size, different limb proportions, and aspects of its long bone morphology. Most notable is the fact that this is the only species of Mesopropithecuswith the forelimb longer than the hind limb— hence the name, the “long-armed” Mesopropithecus.Various characteristics place M. dolichobrachionphenetically closest (of species belonging to Mesopropithecus)to Babakotia radofilai, Archaeoindris,and Palaeopropithecus.If these similarities are derived specializations rather than primitive for palaeopropithecids, a new generic name will be required. |
| |
Keywords: | Mesopropithecus subfossil lemurs Palaeopropithecidae Madagascar |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|