Extinction
Bemaraha Woolly Lemur
Avahi cleesei
Description
Named after the comedian John Cleese, the Bemaraha woolly lemur is a little known Madagascan primate first described in 2005. Like other woolly lemurs, this species has thick, tightly-curled, brown-grey fur, and a long tail that is often rolled up against the back. Pale fur on the small, rounded head extends from the forehead, down towards the nose, forming a distinctive triangular shape. The Bemaraha woolly lemur is different from related species by the thick, black rings that surround the maroon coloured eyes, while the nose is black and the fur around the chest and belly is a lighter grey.
Bemaraha Woolly Lemur Threats
Known from just a single national park, the Bemaraha woolly lemur is very vulnerable to habitat loss. The conversion of forest to agricultural land, using slash-and-burn techniques, is common around the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, and in some places the forest has been reduced to just a few metres wide. The southern border of the national park is also subject to annual bushfires. As this lemur is confined to this area, there is a lot of worry about the status of this little known species. A population around the village of Ankinajao is already believed to have become extinct due to lots of logging, and its total range is now probably no more than 5,000 square kilometres.
Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Indriidae, Genus Avahi
Pig-footed Bandicoot
Chaeropus ecaudatus
Description
Thought to now be extinct, the pig-footed bandicoot was a small, ground-dwelling marsupial. It had a short, stiff coat that was orange-brown on the upper parts and light brown below, with dark bars over the back, which may have acted as camouflage, making it more difficult for predators to spot. It had a long, pointed muzzle, and long legs, with only two functioning toes on each front foot, hence the name ‘pig-footed’. The bandicoot
Avahi cleesei
Description
Named after the comedian John Cleese, the Bemaraha woolly lemur is a little known Madagascan primate first described in 2005. Like other woolly lemurs, this species has thick, tightly-curled, brown-grey fur, and a long tail that is often rolled up against the back. Pale fur on the small, rounded head extends from the forehead, down towards the nose, forming a distinctive triangular shape. The Bemaraha woolly lemur is different from related species by the thick, black rings that surround the maroon coloured eyes, while the nose is black and the fur around the chest and belly is a lighter grey.
Bemaraha Woolly Lemur Threats
Known from just a single national park, the Bemaraha woolly lemur is very vulnerable to habitat loss. The conversion of forest to agricultural land, using slash-and-burn techniques, is common around the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, and in some places the forest has been reduced to just a few metres wide. The southern border of the national park is also subject to annual bushfires. As this lemur is confined to this area, there is a lot of worry about the status of this little known species. A population around the village of Ankinajao is already believed to have become extinct due to lots of logging, and its total range is now probably no more than 5,000 square kilometres.
Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Indriidae, Genus Avahi
Pig-footed Bandicoot
Chaeropus ecaudatus
Description
Thought to now be extinct, the pig-footed bandicoot was a small, ground-dwelling marsupial. It had a short, stiff coat that was orange-brown on the upper parts and light brown below, with dark bars over the back, which may have acted as camouflage, making it more difficult for predators to spot. It had a long, pointed muzzle, and long legs, with only two functioning toes on each front foot, hence the name ‘pig-footed’. The bandicoot