Prosimian

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Revision as of 04:56, 7 September 2007 by imported>Lee R. Berger (→‎Family Lemuridae)
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Prosimian primates are the most primitive of living primates and share many morphological characteristics with other mammals such as tree shrews and bats[1][2]. The greatest diversity of prosimian primates is found on the island of Madagascar[3], but all species of living prosimians are found only in the Old World.

Lemurs

Lemurs exist only on the island of Madagascar and the neighbouring islands of the Comoros. They are among the most primitive of primates. They have moist noses and reflective eyes. They range in body size from the 30 gram Pygmy lemur to the 10kg Indri[1][2]. Due to their geographicaly restricted range and destruction of habitat by humans, all lemur species are endangered[4]. .

Lorises

Lorises are arboreal prosimian primates who live in India and southeast Asia. they live in tropical areas, typically high in the canopy and rarely come to the ground]][1][2]. They are known to be very slow moving. Bushbabies are extremely adept leapers.

Galagos

Galagos, also known as bushbabies, are small, arboreal nocturnal primates with large eyes. They are native to Africa]][1][2].


Tarsiers

Tarsiers are a nocturnal, arboreal primate restricted to several islands in southeast Asia. They are primarily insectiverous and are agile leapers. Unlike most nocturnal primates, they have non-reflective eyes]][1][2].


PRIMATA

SUBORDER STREPSIRHINI

INFRAORDER LEMURIFORMES
Superfamily Lemuroidea
Family Cheirogaleidae
Family Lemuridae
Family Megaladapidae
Family Indriidae
Family Daubentoniidae
Superfamily Lorisoidea
Family Loridae
Family Galagonidae

SUBORDER HAPLORRHINI

INFRAORDER TARSIIFORMES
Family Tarsiidae

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J. Fleagle (1998). Primate Adaptation and Evolution. Academic Press: New York. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 F. Szalay and E. Delson (2001). Evolutionary History of the Primates. Academic Press, New York. 
  3. Wild Madagascar (2005). Madagascar lemurs descended from single primate ancestor. Wildmadagascar.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  4. IUCN (2007). IUCN redlist. IUCN. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.