Eastern dwarf galago

The eastern dwarf galagos are a group of seven species of strepsirrhine primates of the family Galagidae, native to East Africa. They were formerly classified in the genus Galagoides but have been moved to their own genus, Paragalago, based on genetic evidence, and supported by differences in vocalizations and morphology.[1] The three western/Congolian species remain in Galagoides.

Paragalago
Juvenile Grant's bushbaby (P. granti)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Galagidae
Genus: Paragalago
Masters et al., 2017
Type species
Galago zanzibaricus
Matschie, 1893
Species

Paragalago cocos
Paragalago granti
Paragalago nyasae
Paragalago orinus
Paragalago rondoensis
Paragalago zanzibaricus

The two genera are not sister taxa and thus apparently evolved their small sizes and some morphological similarities via parallel evolution, although members of the eastern group tend to be larger. They are separated by the East African Rift. Paragalago is actually sister to the genus of 'lesser galagos', Galago, which are similar in size.[1] There is limited sympatry between Paragalago and the much more widely distributed Galago. Paragalago members range in mass from 60 to 250 g, considered small to medium-sized among galagids.[1]

Of those whose conservation status has been evaluated by the IUCN, P. orinus is considered to be near threatened and P. rondoensis to be critically endangered, while P. cocos, P. granti and P. zanzibaricus are of least concern.

The Taita mountain dwarf galago, found in the Taita Hills, is unclassified.[2] Based on vocalizations, it may be the Kenya coast galago. These dwarf galagos are present in very small forest fragments and are in immediate danger of extinction.

Paragalago species
Taita mountain dwarf galago, Taita Hills, Kenya

Data related to Paragalago at Wikispecies

References
  1. Masters, J.C.; Génin, F.; Couette, S.; Groves, C.P.; Nash, S.D.; Delpero, M.; Pozzi, L. (2017). "A new genus for the eastern dwarf galagos (Primates: Galagidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 181 (1): 229–241. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlw028. hdl:2318/1618044.
  2. Rosti, H.; Rikkinen, J.; Pellikka, P.; Bearder, S.; Mwamodenyi, J.M. (2020). "Taita Mountain dwarf galago is extant in the Taita Hills of Kenya". Oryx. 54 (2): 152–153. doi:10.1017/S003060531900142X.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.