Researchers of the universities of Mainz and Antananarivo have now identified a previously unknown species of dwarf lemur, based on fieldwork in southern Madagascar and laboratory analyses.
“Together with Malagasy scientists, we have been studying the diversity of lemurs for several years now,” said Dr. Andreas Hapke of the Institute of Anthropology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, JGU.
The newly described Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur, Cheirogaleus lavasoensis, inhabits only three isolated forest fragments in the extreme south of Madagascar.
The exact population size is unknown, but preliminary estimates indicate there are fewer than 50 individuals remaining.
“The Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur is thus rare and extremely endangered,” said Dr. Hapke.