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Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rasoloarison, RM; Weisrock, DW; Yoder, AD; Rakotondravony, D; Kappeler, PM
Published in: International Journal of Primatology
June 1, 2013

The number of newly discovered Malagasy vertebrate taxa has multiplied in recent years, emphasizing the importance of complete taxon sampling for phylogenetics, biogeography, functional ecology, and conservation biology, especially in such a biodiversity hotspot. In particular, the diversity of extant lemurs is much higher than previously thought, and we have yet to comprehend fully the full extent of lemuriform biodiversity. A recent genetic analysis of mtDNA and nDNA sequence data in Malagasy mouse lemurs revealed the existence of several novel mtDNA clades based on new field sampling. These geographically defined and previously unrecognized mtDNA clades corresponded precisely to patterns of population structure revealed in the analysis of the nDNA data, thus confirming their evolutionary divergence from other mouse lemur clades. Two of these independently evolving lineages correspond to specimens that were collected by us in the Marolambo and Manantantely/Ivorona regions. Here we summarize the genetic evidence and report on the morphometric and external characteristics of these animals, formally describing them as new species. This report thus brings the number of currently recognized and described mouse lemur species to 20. The forests in which these mouse lemurs were discovered have been heavily degraded in the past decade, prompting the classification of one of the new species as Endangered by the IUCN, even before its formal description. As with several other newly described lemur species, immediate field studies and appropriate conservation actions are therefore urgent. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

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Published In

International Journal of Primatology

DOI

ISSN

0164-0291

Publication Date

June 1, 2013

Volume

34

Issue

3

Start / End Page

455 / 469

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Rasoloarison, R. M., Weisrock, D. W., Yoder, A. D., Rakotondravony, D., & Kappeler, P. M. (2013). Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology, 34(3), 455–469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-013-9672-1
Rasoloarison, R. M., D. W. Weisrock, A. D. Yoder, D. Rakotondravony, and P. M. Kappeler. “Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar.” International Journal of Primatology 34, no. 3 (June 1, 2013): 455–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-013-9672-1.
Rasoloarison RM, Weisrock DW, Yoder AD, Rakotondravony D, Kappeler PM. Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology. 2013 Jun 1;34(3):455–69.
Rasoloarison, R. M., et al. “Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar.” International Journal of Primatology, vol. 34, no. 3, June 2013, pp. 455–69. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s10764-013-9672-1.
Rasoloarison RM, Weisrock DW, Yoder AD, Rakotondravony D, Kappeler PM. Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology. 2013 Jun 1;34(3):455–469.
Journal cover image

Published In

International Journal of Primatology

DOI

ISSN

0164-0291

Publication Date

June 1, 2013

Volume

34

Issue

3

Start / End Page

455 / 469

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology