![]() Dental features, such as the morphology of their molar teeth and the modified number of teeth in their toothcomb (a specialized grooming structure found in lemuriforms), have long suggested a relationship. Another member of this clade (related group) is the family of monkey lemurs (Archaeolemuridae). This relationship is supported by data from morphological, developmental, and molecular research. Īll four genera of sloth lemurs are known to be a sister taxon (close relatives) of family Indriidae, which includes the indri ( Indri), sifakas ( Propithecus), and woolly lemurs ( Avahi). Traits of the postcranium (skeleton below the skull) indicate that Babakotia was the next most closely related sloth lemur to Archaeoindris and Palaeopropithecus, followed by Mesopropithecus, the smallest of the sloth lemurs. ![]() Phylogeny of Archaeoindris and its closest lemur relatives Īrchaeoindris was most closely related to Palaeopropithecus, a genus containing the second largest of the sloth lemurs and specialized for suspensory behavior in its arboreal habitat. Its ancestors were likely arboreal (tree-dwelling), and this giant sloth lemur has been compared to the extinct giant ground sloths of North and South America. Evolutionary history Īrchaeoindris was a type of sloth lemur (family Palaeopropithecidae), a recently extinct family of giant lemurs (known as subfossil lemurs) native to Madagascar. ![]() Fontoynont was reported to have been supervising the excavation when it was discovered. The species name, fontoynontii (sometimes spelled fontoynonti), was selected in honor of Antoine Maurice Fontoynont, the president of the Académie Malgache ( Malagasy Academy) at the time. The generic name Archaeoindris, meaning "ancient indri-like lemur", is derived from the Greek word ἀρχαῖος (archaios, or "ancient") and indris, a common variation of the generic name Indri. Although it was a rare lemur, it was still extant when humans first arrived on Madagascar, and it would have been vulnerable to hunting and habitat loss. Today, the region is dominated by grasslands and lemur diversity is very low in the nearest protected area, Ambohitantely Special Reserve. The diet of Archaeoindris was mostly leaves, and its habitat-prior to human arrival-was a mix of woodlands, bushlands, and savanna, rich in lemur diversity. Its skeleton suggests it was a deliberate climber that visited the ground to travel. Misattributions and limited remains have resulted in varying opinions about the way Archaeoindris moved in its environment, ranging from tree-dwelling to ground-dwelling. Size estimates based on the limited remains have varied widely, ranging as high as 244 kilograms (538 pounds), but the most thorough statistical investigation using regression analyses predicts a mass of 160 kg (350 lb). The arms were longer than the legs, but no hand or foot bones have been found for comparison with the other sloth lemurs. The skeleton of Archaeoindris was massive and robust, and shared many traits with that of Palaeopropithecus. These errors were gradually corrected between the 1930s and 1980s. Following its initial discovery, some subfossil remains of Megaladapis grandidieri (a type of extinct koala lemur) were mistakenly associated with Archaeoindris, while smaller leg bones from a juvenile and a massive adult leg bone were erroneously assumed to belong to two separate species. Its remains have been found at only one location: Ampasambazimba, a subfossil site in central Madagascar. Only six bones from the lower skeleton have been found and excavations in the 1980s offered no leads for new finds. Standing in 1909 based on subfossil fragmentary jaws, although Charles Lamberton later discovered a complete skull. The genus, Archaeoindris, translates to "ancient indri-like lemur", even though it probably became extinct recently, around 350 BCE.Īrchaeoindris was first described by Herbert F. Along with the other sloth lemurs, Archaeoindris was related to the living indri, sifakas, and woolly lemurs, as well as the recently extinct monkey lemurs (Archaeolemuridae). It was most closely related to Palaeopropithecus, the second largest type of sloth lemur. It belonged to a family of extinct lemurs known as " sloth lemurs" (Palaeopropithecidae) and, because of its extremely large size, it has been compared to the ground sloths that once roamed North and South America. Lemuridotherium madagascariense Standing, 1910Īrchaeoindris fontoynontii is an extinct giant lemur and the largest primate known to have evolved on Madagascar, comparable in size to a male gorilla.
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