Report: 3 new species of tiny primates discovered
© 2000 Cable News Network
November 14, 2000
CHICAGO, Illinois -- Three previously unknown species of mouse lemurs, the world's smallest primates, have been discovered in Madagascar, scientists announced this week.
Primitive primates that live in trees, Lemurs are among the most threatened animals in the world. Conservationists welcomed the surprise discovery.
Madagascar and the nearby Comoro Islands are the only homes to the roughly 40 species of lemurs. They are nocturnal creatures with long noses, agile limbs and piercing round eyes. The species range in size from as small as chipmunks to as large as medium-sized dogs.
An international team confirmed the new varieties by genetic tests as well as by measuring small differences in their skulls, teeth and other physical characteristics.
"It's incredibly rare to discover a new species of primate, let alone three new species," said Steven Goodman of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, who participated in the study.
Goodman has documented the rich biodiversity of Madagascar for more than a decade, often doing field research with students as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature's Ecology Training Program.
Other participants were from Germany and Madagascar.
The newly discovered species inhabit only the dry, dense forests along the island's west coast. They weigh only a few ounces and eat beetles, fruit and plants.
The scientists said they also found what they believe are two more previously unknown species of mouse lemur, but an international panel of primate experts must approve that observation.
Madagascar is a large island off the east coast of Africa. Scientists believe it split off the continent about 165 million years ago and many of its plant and animal species are unique to the island.
The oldest lemur fossils are about 58 million years old, making them important links in studies of the evolution of humans and other primates like apes and monkeys.
"Understanding aspects of lemur biology and evolution gives us a window into the history of more advanced primates, like ourselves," said study scientist Rodin Rasoloarison in a statement.
Madagascar has been stripped of 90 percent of its original forests, threatening the survival of many species.
Conservationists fear that 10 percent of the world's primate species, will go extinct in the next 10 or 20 years.
Dean Gibson, manager of the Duke University Primate Center, said she expects additional surveys would find even more new species.
"So many areas of Madagascar haven't been surveyed. I think there is more to find," she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.