TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A new dwarf lemur species was found in a remote jungle in three islands of South Madagascar. The lemur is identified as dwarf lemur Lavasoa (Cheirogaleus lavasoensis).
Live science reported on Wednesday July 31 that the researchers claim the lemur species was previously unknown due its tiny population which is estimated only 50 lemurs in the wild.
Dwarf lemurs are nocturnal, only active at night. They spend most of their time in the forest canopy. They also have dormant period where they will be hiding inside a lair on the trees for months in a year to save energy.
The new species was finally identified after the researchers had analyzed the body tissue sample of the dwarf lemur. Initially, dwarf lemur are categorized as furry-eared lemur (Cheirogaleus crossleyi), but the evidence on the genetical analysis proved that they are of different species.
"The new method helps us to identify the animals which are previously unknown," said Andrea Hapke, a scientist in Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany, who conduct the research on the dwarf lemur.
The lemur is primate endemic to Madagascar, a big island on the African eastern off shore. Madagascar is well known for its rich biodiversity and unique biota. The finding on the new species is detailed in the Journal of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI
