A Lemur for Monty Python & John Cleese Fans - Avahi cleesei
A new species of woolly lemur first spotted in 1990 by researchers was officially announced this past November.
The animals are known locally as Dadintsifaka which means ‘grandparent of sifakas’ (Propithecus deckeni) because they are smaller and greyer than the white sifaka lemur. The species was given the scientific name Avahi cleesei after the famous comedian and actor John Cleese.
Read the fascinating story [pdf] of researcher Urs Thulmann to learn more about this discovery as well as other lemurs and creatures of Madagascar. It details what happened over the 15 years between his initial sighting and the report giving the critters their zoological name.
You can also read the short scientific report published in the American Journal of Primatology [pdf] as well as hear audio clips of the new lemurs.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Indriidae
Genus: Avahi
2 Responses to 'A Lemur for Monty Python & John Cleese Fans - Avahi cleesei'
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on June 21st, 2006 at 11:53 pm
The Monty Python troupe notches another scientific name.
And there was much rejoicing.
on July 21st, 2006 at 9:08 am
[…] Mouse lemurs are the smallest primates in the world. The discovery of these tiny critters join other recentlty announced lemur discoveries including Avahi cleesei, the John Cleese/Monty Python lemur. […]