Greater galago

The greater galagos[1] or thick-tailed bushbabies are everyday names for three species of strepsirrhine primates. They are classified in the genus Otolemur in the family Galagidae.

Otolemur[1]
Brown greater galago
(O. crassicaudatus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Galagidae
Genus: Otolemur
Coquerel, 1859
Type species
Otolemur agyisymbanus
Coquerel, 1859
( = Otolicnus garnetti Ogilby, 1838)
Species

Otolemur crassicaudatus
Otolemur monteiri
Otolemur garnettii

Northern greater galago (O. garnettii)

Historical classification and species discovery

The diversity of galago species has historically been grossly underestimated. In 1931, only 5 species were recognized, 4 in the genus Galago and 1 in Euoticus, and only one species that would later be placed in the genus Otolemur.[2] In 1979, the genus Otolemur was separated from Galago.[3] By 1986, eleven species were recognized with revamped systemic classification including Otolemur crassicaudatus and Otolemur garnettii.[4] Additionally, O. crassidautus and O. monteiri were recognized as separate species instead of O. monteiri as a nested subspecies.[4] By 2001, 23 species were recognized. Classification by vocalization has particularly become prevalent and helpful as a tool in understanding of these species. All Otolemur species exhibit trailing advertising calls.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The species are found in coastal regions of East Africa ranging from the Juba River in Somalia, through Mozambique and Tanzania down to the northern parts of South Africa and as far west as Angola. For the most part they live in woods but also in wooded grasslands and even city parks.

Taxonomy

References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). "Genus Otolemur". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Grubb, Peter; Butynski TM; Oates JF; Bearder SK; Disotell TR; Groves CP; Struhsaker TT (December 2003). "Assessment of the Diversity of African Primates". Internal Journal of Primatology. 24 (6): 1301–1357.
  3. Olson, T. R. (1979). Studies on Aspects of the Morphology and Systematics of the Genus Otolemur. London: Phd thesis, University of London.
  4. Olson, T. R. (1986). "Species Diversity and Zoogeography in the Galagidae". Primate Rep. 214: 213.
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