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Lemurs of Madagascar, currently in its 2nd edition with the 3rd edition due to be released soon, is a standard reference work and field guide for the lemurs of Madagascar, giving descriptions and biogeographic data for the known species. The primary contributor is Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International, and the cover art and illustrations were drawn by Stephen Nash. The books provide details about all known lemur species, general information about lemurs and their history, and also helps readers identify species they may encounter. The first edition identified 50 lemur taxa, while the second edition identified 71. The taxonomy promoted by these books has been questioned by researchers, such as Ian Tattersall, who views these growing numbers of lemur species as an example of taxonomic inflation.

Overview

Lemurs of Madagascar is published by Conservation International (CI) and is intended as a field guide that identifies all of the known lemur species from Madagascar. The first edition of Lemurs of Madagascar was published in 1994. The second edition was published in 2006 and is now officially out of print, pending the upcoming publication of the third edition. The main author for both editions is Russell Mittermeier, president of (CI), although many other prominent lemur researchers have also been significant contributors to various editions. Other regular contributors include William Konstant, Ian Tattersall, and David Meyers. For all editions, Stephen Nash has been the illustrator and front cover artist.

The first edition follows a 1982 volume by Tattersall, entitled Primates of Madagascar. As a field guide, the Lemurs of Madagascar is more portable and affordable than Tattersall's book, intended to assist lemur researchers and tourists in the identification of lemur species and subspecies. Both editions cover the natural history and conservation status for each known species. They also discuss conservation strategies, lemur origins, extinct lemurs, and the history of discoveries made by early European naturalists. The books also provide suggestions on where to see each species, as well as checklists to help people keep track of their sightings.

Three pocket field guides have also been published by CI, intended strictly to help people identify lemurs in the field by providing over 100 species illustrations. The three pocket guides are Lemurs of Madagascar Pocket Identification Guide (out of print), Nocturnal Lemurs, and Diurnal and Cathemeral Lemurs.

Impact on lemur taxonomy

While the first edition recognized 50 lemur taxa (32 species and 25 subspecies), the second edition recognized 71 lemur taxa (68 species and 5 subspecies) just 12 years later. By following the recommendations of Colin Groves in the third edition of Mammal Species of the World from 2005 by recognizing newly-identified nocturnal species and splitting many former subspecies into distinct species.

Not all lemur researchers agree with the species promotions supported by these books. Researchers such as Tattersall and Anne Yoder, director of the Duke Lemur Center, have raised concerns about taxonomic inflation. In particular, Tattersall has noted a steep decline in polytypic lemur species, or species with defined subspecies, starting with the first edition of Lemurs of Madagascar and becoming more pronounced in the second edition. He noted that more than half of the new species added in the second edition were promoted subspecies and questioned whether Madagascar could produce so many monotypic species.

Prior to the release of the third edition of Lemurs of Madagascar, many of the major contributors, as well as Colin Groves, teamed up in 2008 to compile an updated lemur species list, published under the title "Lemur diversity in Madagascar" in the International Journal of Primatology. In it, 99 lemur taxa were recognized (97 species and 3 subspecies).

References

1. ^ Gould, L. (1996). "Book review: Lemurs of Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 17 (2): 299–300. doi:10.1007/BF02735455.
2. ^ Mittermeier, R.A.; Tattersall, I.; Konstant, W.R.; Meyers, D.M.; Mast, R.B. (1994). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (1st ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 1-881173-08-9. OCLC 32480729.
3. "Publications: Lemurs of Madagascar". Conservation International. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
4. ^ Mittermeier, R.A.; Konstant, W.R.; Hawkins, F.; Louis, E.E.; et al. (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (2nd ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 1-881173-88-7. OCLC 883321520.
5. "Publications: Lemurs of Madagascar Pocket Identification Guide". Conservation International. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
6. ^ Tattersall, I. (2007). "Madagascar's lemurs: Cryptic diversity or taxonomic inflation?". Evolutionary Anthropology. 16: 12–23. doi:10.1002/evan.20126.
7. Yoder, A.D. (2007). "Lemurs: a quick guide" (PDF). Current Biology. 17 (20): 866–868.
8. Mittermeier, R.; Ganzhorn, J.; Konstant, W.; Glander, K.; Tattersall, I.; Groves, C.; Rylands, A.; Hapke, A.; Ratsimbazafy, J.; Mayor, M.; Louis, E.; Rumpler, Y.; Schwitzer, C.; Rasoloarison, R. (2008). "Lemur diversity in Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 29 (6): 1607–1656. doi:10.1007/s10764-008-9317-y.

• Mammalogy
• Lemurs