[Mammalogy • 2020] Microcebus jonahi • Ecology and Morphology of Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus spp.) in A Hotspot of Microendemism in northeastern Madagascar, with the Description of A New Species

 Microcebus jonahi 

Schüßler, Blanco, Salmona, Poelstra, Andriambeloson, Miller, Randrianambinina, Rasolofoson, Mantilla‐Contreras, Chikhi, Louis, Yoder & Radespiel, 2020

 Jonah's Mouse Lemur | Microcèbe de Jonah || DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23180

Illustration by Stephen D. Nash/IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group; Photo by D. Schüßler.

Highlights: 

- Two pairs of Microcebus species occur in partial sympatry.

- Morphological distinctiveness supports genomic species delimitation in cryptic lemurs.

- High plasticity in reproductive schedules in a lineage of habitat generalists detected.

Abstract

Delimitation of cryptic species is increasingly based on genetic analyses but the integration of distributional, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data offers unique complementary insights into species diversification. We surveyed communities of nocturnal mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) in five different sites of northeastern Madagascar, measuring a variety of morphological parameters and assessing reproductive states for 123 individuals belonging to five different lineages. We documented two different non‐sister lineages occurring in sympatry in two areas. In both cases, sympatric species pairs consisted of a locally restricted (M. macarthurii or M . sp. #3) and a more widespread lineage (M. mittermeieri or M. lehilahytsara). Estimated Extents of Occurrence (EOO) of these lineages differed remarkably with 560 and 1,500 km2 versus 9,250 and 50,700 km2, respectively. Morphometric analyses distinguished unambiguously between sympatric species and detected more subtle but significant differences among sister lineages. Tail length and body size were most informative in this regard. Reproductive schedules were highly variable among lineages, most likely impacted by phylogenetic relatedness and environmental variables. While sympatric species pairs differed in their reproductive timing (M. sp. #3/M. lehilahytsara and M. macarthurii/M. mittermeieri), warmer lowland rainforests were associated with a less seasonal reproductive schedule for M. mittermeieri and M. lehilahytsara compared with populations occurring in montane forests. Distributional, morphological, and ecological data gathered in this study support the results of genomic species delimitation analyses conducted in a companion study, which identified one lineage, M. sp. #3, as meriting formal description as a new species. Consequently, a formal species description is included. Worryingly, our data also show that geographically restricted populations of M. sp. #3 and its sister species (M. macarthurii) are at high risk of local and perhaps permanent extinction from both deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

Keywords: conservation, cryptic species, evolution, habitat use, phenotype, sympatry

 Systematics

Order: Primates (Linnaeus 1758)

Suborder: Strepshirrini (É. Geoffroy 1812)

Family: Cheirogaleidae (Gray 1873)

Genus: Microcebus (É. Geoffroy 1828)

 Microcebus jonahi species nova

 

Figure 7: Outer morphology of  Microcebus jonahi.
 (a) Drawing of an adult individual; (b) Habitus of adult female (paratype individual BD1); (c–e) Close‐ups of adult male (holotype B34).

Illustration copyright by Stephen D. Nash/IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group; used with permission. 

Photos by D. Schüßler.

  Habitat information: M. jonahi individuals were captured at altitudes between 42 and 356 m a.s.l. Out of the 25 captured individuals, six were caught in near‐primary forest (= low degradation) with a rather continuous canopy and five were captured in highly degraded forests with discontinuous canopy cover and strong regrowth of early successional trees. The majority of individuals (N  = 14) were captured in 2–4 m high stands of the perennial Madagascar cardamom (Aframomum angustifolium), sometimes intermixed with trees along the forest edges. At Antanambe (Figure 1), a total of 39 individuals were sighted of which 35 were found in forest habitats of different degradation stages. No M. jonahi were sighted in treeless secondary vegetation except for dense Aframomum angustifolium habitats. It currently inhabits one protected area (Mananara‐Nord NP) and a community managed forest area around the village of Ambavala (Schüßler et al., 2018).

Diagnosis: 

M. jonahi can be distinguished from other taxa in northeastern Madagascar by morphometric features and genomic distinctiveness. Compared with its closest relative, M. macarthurii, M. jonahi is longer, has a shorter tail, wider ears, a larger head width and a shorter head length. In addition, M. jonahi can be differentiated from M. macarthurii by its ventral coloration which is rather whitish (Figure 6), but distinctly yellowish orange in M. macarthurii (Radespiel et al., 2008; Radespiel & Raveloson, unpublished data).

Moreover, it can be easily distinguished from the sympatric, small‐bodied M. lehilahytsara (at Ambavala) by its higher body mass, larger body size, and longer tail length. Finally, M. jonahi can be differentiated from its southern geographical neighbor, M. simmonsi, by its shorter ear length and its larger inter‐ and intraorbital distances. M. jonahi could be unambiguously distinguished from the other four taxa in this study across all analyses of nuclear RADseq data (Poelstra et al., 2020). However, it may not be reliably distinguished from M. macarthurii based solely on mitochondrial sequences, likely due to some introgression from M. jonahi into M. macarthurii in the past (Poelstra et al., 2020).

Etymology: M. jonahi is named in honor of Malagasy primatologist Professor Jonah Ratsimbazafy. He has dedicated his life's work to the conservation of Malagasy lemurs. With both national and international outreach to the scientific community (e.g., GERP, IPS, LemursPortal), to the public of Madagascar (e.g., by initiating the World Lemur Festival), and to the political leaders of Madagascar, he serves as an inspirational role model for young Malagasy students and scientists. He provides hope for the future of Madagascar and for its iconic lemurs during very challenging times.

Vernacular name: English name: Jonah's mouse lemur, French name: Microcèbe de Jonah, German name: Jonah's Mausmaki.

Map depicting the study region with confirmed species occurrences (Hotaling et al., 2016; Kappeler et al., 2005; Louis et al., 2006; Radespiel et al., 2008, 2012; Weisrock et al., 2010). New sampling locations for this study are indicated with “*” and forest cover in 2017/2018 was derived from Vieilledent et al. (2018) and Schüßler et al. (2020). NP, National Park; SNR, Special Nature Reserve; SR, Special Reservehide.

Dominik Schüßler, Marina B. Blanco, Jordi Salmona, Jelmer Poelstra, Jean B. Andriambeloson, Alex Miller, Blanchard Randrianambinina, David W. Rasolofoson, Jasmin Mantilla‐Contreras, Lounès Chikhi, Edward E. Louis Jr., Anne D. Yoder and Ute Radespiel. 2020. Ecology and Morphology of Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus spp.) in A Hotspot of Microendemism in northeastern Madagascar, with the Description of A New Species. American Journal of Primatology. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23180

    

[Mammalogy • 2017] Hoolock tianxing • A New Species of Hoolock Gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae), based on Integrative Taxonomy, from eastern Myanmar and southwestern China

Hoolock tianxing 

Fan, He, Chen, Ortiz, Zhang, Zhao, Li, Zhang, Kimock, Wang, Groves, Turvey, Roos, Helgen & Jiang, 2017  

Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon or Gaoligong Hoolock Gibbon    DOI:  10.1002/ajp.22631 

Abstract

We describe a species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) that is new to science from eastern Myanmar and southwestern China. The genus of hoolock gibbons comprises two previously described living species, the western (Hoolock hoolock) and eastern hoolock (H. leuconedys) gibbons, geographically isolated by the Chindwin River. We assessed the morphological and genetic characteristics of wild animals and museum specimens, and conducted multi-disciplinary analyses using mitochondrial genomic sequences, external morphology, and craniodental characters to evaluate the taxonomic status of the hoolock population in China. The results suggest that hoolocks distributed to the east of the Irrawaddy-Nmai Hka Rivers, which were previously assigned to H. leuconedys, are morphologically and genetically distinct from those to the west of the river, and should be recognized as a new species, the Gaoligong hoolock gibbon or skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing sp. nov.). We consider that the new species should be categorized as Endangered under IUCN criteria. The discovery of the new species focuses attention on the need for improved conservation of small apes, many of which are in danger of extinction in southern China and Southeast Asia.

Figure 8: A juvenile male of Hoolock tianxing from Mt. Gaoligong jumping across trees.

Photo taken by Lei Dong 

Order Primates Linnaeus (1758)

Family Hylobatidae Gray (1870)

Genus Hoolock Mootnick and Groves (2005)

Hoolock tianxing sp. nov.

Hylobates hoolock leuconedys: Groves (1967): 276 (part).

Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon or Gaoligong Hoolock Gibbon 

  Holotype: AMNH M-43068 (adult male, skin only; Figure 3), collected by Roy Chapman Andrews and Yvette Borup Andrews on April 5, 1917 during the American Museum of Natural History's Asiatic Zoological Expedition (Allen, 1938).

 Type locality: Ho-mu-shu (=Hongmushu) Pass, Baoshan, Yunnan, China (25.00 N, 98.83 E).

 Paratypes: AMNH M-43065 (adult female, skin only; Supplemental Figure S1) and MCZ 26474 (=AMNH M-43067, skin and skull, relocated to MCZ in September 1930), collected at the same locality as the holotype (Allen, 1938). IOZ 25965 (adult male, skin and skull; Supplemental Figure S3), collected on 4 June, 1965 at Tengchong, Yunnan, China. MCZ 30383 (adult male, skin and skull; Supplemental Figure S3) collected on 15 January, 1932, ca. 40 miles east of Bhamo, northern Myanmar, during the Brooke Dolan expedition.

 Etymology: Tianxing, meaning heaven's movement or skywalker (xing, movement, can act as either a noun or a verb), a name referring to the unique locomotory mode of gibbons (brachiation; Figure 8) and derived from the text of the I Ching, an ancient Chinese work of divination (“As heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must the scholarly gentleman (ajp22631-gra-0005, “junzi”) ceaselessly strive for self-improvement”). Gibbons were widely regarded as a symbol of scholar-officials or junzi in ancient China, as the perceived “noble” characteristics of gibbons were considered to accord with the aesthetic taste of both Daoism and traditional Chinese scholars (van Gulik, 1967; Ye & Heule, 2013).

Diagnosis:  Hoolock tianxing is a hoolock gibbon distinguished from other described hoolock species by a combination of external and dental characters. In males, the ventral pelage is brownish, resembling that of H. leuconedys but differing from H. hoolock. The eyebrows are relatively thinner than in H. hoolock and H. leuconedys, and well-separated, differing from the condition in H. hoolock, where there is only a narrow gap between the eyebrows. White hairs are absent in the suborbital area, differing from H. leuconedys, which has white hairs in the suborbital area. The beards of males are black or brown, differing in color from H. leuconedys, which has a whitish or buffy beard, and not as prominent as in H. hoolock. The black, brown or grayish genital tuft in males differs in color from H. leuconedys, which has a white or silvery tuft. The face rings in females are incomplete, differing from the condition in both H. hoolock and H. leuconedys. The crown outline of the lower p4 is oval, making it distinct from H. leuconedys and H. hoolock individuals from Myanmar and more similar to H. hoolock from Assam.

Distribution: Between the Irrawaddy-Nmai Hka River and the Salween River in China and Myanmar. The Dulongjiang valley, the upper tributary of the Nmai Hka River, may serve as a dispersal barrier for hoolocks. Wild individuals are confirmed to occur on Mt. Gaoligong, and historical museum specimens are also known from further south at Gokteik, Shan State, northern Myanmar. Geissmann et al. (2013) estimated that a healthy population with ca. 50,000 individuals of eastern hoolock live in Shan State subtropical forests, and ca. 16,000 individuals live in montane rainforest in Kayah-Kayin.

Peng-Fei Fan, Kai He, Xing Chen, Alejandra Ortiz, Bin Zhang, Chao Zhao, Yun-Qiao Li, Hai-Bo Zhang, Clare Kimock, Wen-Zhi Wang, Colin Groves, Samuel T. Turvey, Christian Roos, Kristofer M. Helgen and Xue-Long Jiang. 2017. Description of A New Species of Hoolock Gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) Based on Integrative Taxonomy. 
American Journal of Primatology.   DOI:  10.1002/ajp.22631

New species of gibbon discovered in China

TheGuardian.com/environment/2017/jan/11/new-species-of-gibbon-discovered-in-china

[Mammalogy • 2015] Morphological Characteristics and Genetic Diversity of Burmese Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis aurea)

Fig. 1. Distribution range of Macaca fascicularis aurea (Mfa; black) and M. fascicularis fascicularis (Mff; gray). Black, white, and gray circles indicate the Mfa, Mff, and hybrid locations of the samples collected in this study.

DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22512

Abstract

Macaca fascicularis aurea (Mfa) is the only macaque which has been recorded to use stone tools to access encased foods. They live in close contact with M. fascicularis fascicularis (Mff) in southwestern Thailand and the hybrids were reported [Fooden, 1995]. Although Mff and Mfa can be seen in the same habitat types, tool-use behavior has never been reported in Mff. Thus, comparing the morphological characteristics and genetics between Mfa and Mff should help elucidate not only the morphological differences and genetic divergence between these subspecies but also potentially the relationship between genetics and their tool use behavior. We surveyed Mfa and Mff in Myanmar and Thailand, ranging from 16° 58′ to 7° 12′ N. Fecal or blood samples were collected from eight, five, and four populations of Mfa, Mff, and Mff × Mfa morphological hybrids along with three individuals of captive Chinese M. mulatta (Mm), respectively, for mtDNA and Y-chromosome (TSPY and SRY genes) DNA sequence analyses. In addition, eight populations were captured and measured for 38 somatometric dimensions. Comparison of the somatic measurements revealed that Mfa had a statistically significantly shorter tail than Mff (P < 0.05). Based on the mtDNA sequences, Mfa was separated from the Mm/Mff clade. Within the Mfa clade, the mainland Myanmar population was separate from the Mergui Archipelago and Thailand Andaman seacoast populations. All the morphological hybrids had the Mff mtDNA haplotype. Based on the Y-chromosome sequences, the three major clades of Mm/Indochinese Mff, Sundaic Mff, and Mfa were constructed. The hybrid populations grouped either with the Mm/Indochinese Mff or with the Mfa. Regarding the genetic analysis, one subspecies hybrid population in Thailand (KRI) elicited tool use behavior, thus the potential role of genetics in tool use behavior is raised in addition to the environmental force, morphological suitability, and cognitive capability.

Keywords: Burmese long-tailed macaque; Andaman seacoast; mtDNA; TSPY; SRY

Srichan Bunlungsup, Hiroo Imai, Yuzuru Hamada, Michael D. Gumert, Aye Mi San and Suchinda Malaivijitnond. 2015. Morphological Characteristics and Genetic Diversity of Burmese Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis aurea).
American Journal of Primatology. 78(4); 441–455. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22512

[Mammalogy • 2015] Macaca leucogenys | White-cheeked Macaque • A New Macaque Species from Modog, southeastern Tibet

A hairy-necked Macaca leucogenys youngster

Image: Mr. Cheng Li/Tibet Forestry

Abstract

We describe a newly discovered Macaca species from the Modog, in southeastern Tibet, China, Macaca leucogenys sp. nov or the “White-cheeked Macaque”. Based on 738 photos taken during direct observations and captured by camera traps this new species appears to be distinct from the Macaca sinica species group. Moreover, the species is distinguished from all potential sympatric macaque species (M. mulatta, M. thibetana, M. assamensis, and M. munzala) in exhibiting a suite of pelage characteristics including relatively uniform dorsal hair pattern, hairy ventral pelage, relative hairless short tail, prominent pale to white side- and chin-whiskers creating a white cheek and round facial appearance, dark facial skin on the muzzle, long and thick hairs on its neck, and a round rather than arrow-shaped male genitalia. This new macaque species was found to exploit a diverse set of habitat types from tropical forest at 1395 m, to primary and secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest at 2000 m, as well as mixed broadleaf-conifer forest at 2700 m. Its range may extend to neighboring counties in Tibet and the part of southeastern Tibet controlled by India. The white-cheeked macaque is threatened by illegal hunting and the construction of hydropower stations. Discovery of this new primate species further highlights the high value for biodiversity conservation of southeastern Tibet and calls for more intensive surveys, studies, and environmental protection in this area. 

Keywords: new species; Macaca leucogenys; M. thibetana; M. assamensis; M. munzala; Southeastern Tibet

INTRODUCTION

Southeastern Tibet (a part of this area is controlled by India called Arunachal) is a biodiversity-rich area located at the junction of the Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma region, a global biodiversity hotspot [Myers et al., 2000]. The area consists of a diverse series of ecosystems from alluvial grasslands and subtropical broadleaf forests to alpine meadows above the tree line at an altitudinal range of 150–6000 m above sea level. In China, the two macaque species present in this area have long been referred to as Macaca assamensis assamensis and M. mulatta [Mammals in Tibet, 1986]. Recently, Indian primatologists reported the existence of M. thibetana in this area [Kumar et al., 2005] and in 2005 described a new macaque species (M. munzala) in the Tawang and Kameng districts (Cuona County in China) [Chakraborty et al., 2007; Mishra & Sinha, 2008; Sinha et al., 2005]. In 2005, a dark macaque skin collected by R. Suresh Kumar was identified as M. thibetana [Kumar et al., 2005] despite the fact that the known range of M. thibetana is located more than 1000 km to the east (Fig. 1). The specimen was described as exhibiting fur that was “dark chocolate brown dorsally with a long thick pelage that extended over all the limbs, while the peripheral hairs, indicative of the ventral region of the body, were pale and whitish” [Kumar et al., 2005: 1387].

Figure 1. Map showing the rough distribution range of each species or subspecies of Macaca in southeast Tibet.

M. munzala is reported to be sympatric with M. assamensis pelops in Tawang and Kameng but usually lives in high altitude forests between 2000 and 3500 m above sea level [Sinha et al., 2005; Fig. 1]. Molecular analyses support M. munzala as a distinct species and indicate its close phylogenetic relationship with M. assamensis, M. thibetana, and M. radiata [Chakraborty et al., 2007]. Therefore, southeastern Tibet appears to represent a region of high macaque diversity, with possibly four species present [Kumar et al., 2005; Fig. 1]. However, recently Biswas et al. [2011] questioned the species status of M. munzala. These authors argued that macaques in this area show great diversity in tail length, pelage color, facial skin color, and facial and hair patterns, and therefore M. munzala could represent a subspecies of M. assamensis. Thus, the taxonomy of macaques in this region remains unclear.

In order to clarify the species status and diversity of macaques in Southeastern Tibet, in 2013 and 2014 we combined direct field observations and photographs obtained from camera traps to survey the macaque population in this region. Camera traps represent a time- and labor-efficient method of data collection that has been used widely to survey mammalian diversity and behavior. Camera traps are increasingly used in primate field studies, especially in the case of unhabituated elusive terrestrial primates [Boyer-Ontl & Pruetz, 2014; Pebsworth & LaFleur, 2014]. In southeastern Tibet, macaques live in dense tropical or subtropical evergreen forests, travel across mountainous terrain, and spend a considerable amount of time foraging on ground. Given the difficulties of following unhabituated groups, we used photographs obtained from camera traps, to compare pelage characteristics of the local macaque populations. When we encountered a macaque group, we attempted to take additional photographs or videos of all individuals.

In total, we obtained 738 photos of macaques from Modog (Fig. 1). However, the population we observed and photographed exhibited pelage and body characteristics unlike any other known macaque species. Here, we describe the morphological characteristics of this macaque population and propose that it represents a new species, Macaca leucogenys or the white-cheeked macaque. In our analysis, we compare M. leucogenys with potentially sympatric macaque species (M. thibetana, M. a. assamensis, M. a. pelops, and M. mulatta). Due to ethical concerns regarding killing wild primates, we did not obtain a voucher specimen for the proposed new species. Rather, we describe M. leucogenys based on hundreds of photographs, similar to the method used by Sinha et al. [2005] in describing M. munzala and Jones et al. [2005] did for Lophocebus kipunji. Article 73.1.4 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature allows for the designation of photographs as type specimens [Polaszek et al., 2006]. We also provided first-hand, but preliminary, information about its ecology.

.............

Order Primates Linnaeus, 1758

Superfamily Cercopithecoidea Gray, 1821

Family Cercopithecidae Gray, 1821

Genus Macaca Lacépède, 1799

Macaca leucogenys Species Novum || WHITE-CHEEKED MACAQUE

Figure 5. Facial skin becomes darker and darker, and pale side-whiskers become more prominent with age (A, B: infants; C: juveniles with different age; D: adult female; E: adult male in the right, adult female in the left and two small juveniles). There are virtually no dark hairs on the face of adults. These photos also show light ventral coloration and long and thick hairs on the neck.

Holotype: An adult male, photographed by camera traps (Figs. 4A, 5E, 6A and B). This male was photographed and videoed resting during an undisturbed grooming bout in which more than three group members groomed him.

Paratypes: Two adult females photographed by the same camera trap captured the holotype. One is the female in Fig. 4B (photographed on January 24, 2014). The other female is present in Fig. 5D and E (photographed on January 28, 2014). The holotype and two paratypes are likely members of the same group because they were photographed by the same camera trap. Members of this group included one adult male (holotype), three adult females (two paratypes and one other female), at least eight subadults or juveniles, and one infant. Subdults and juveniles were distinguished by less prominent side-whiskers. We are trying to obtain live specimens so that they can be observed and studied in an appropriate facility and when they die, their skins, skulls, and skeletons will be deposited at Dali University.

Type locality: Gangrigebu (29°28′19.73″N, 95°49′25.00″E, 2410 m above sea level), Modog County, Tibet, China.

Diagnosis: The white-cheeked macaque is robust, heavyset with a relatively short tail. The species can be morphologically distinguished from all other known Macaca species, especially potential sympatric species by a suite of characteristics including relatively uniform dorsal pelage, hairy ventral pelage, relative hairless short tail, prominent pale to white side- and chin-whiskers creating a white cheek and round facial appearance, dark facial skin on the muzzle, and long and thick hairs on neck (Table II). Adults emit high-pitched alarm calls in the presence of humans (Fig. 2). Moreover, there is no inflection between the glans penis and shaft and the glans looks like a ring (based on three photos from only one adult male) rather than exhibiting a sagittate shape which is characteristic of the sinica species group of macaque.

Figure 9. Photos showing differences between Macaca leucogenys and three potential sympatric macaque specie. Macaca mulatta is not shown because it can be easily differentiated from M. leucogenys by the different color of dorsal pelage. M. a. pelops is not shown because it has a generally similar pelage pattern with M. a. assamensis but has a longer tail.
A and B [cited from Sinha et al., 2005]: M. munzala lacks side- and chin-whiskers. C (female) and D (male): Macaca assamensis assamensis has prominent chin whiskers but side whiskers are less prominent creating a triangular face. Hairs on its ventral part and neck are thin and short. E (female) and F (male): Macaca thibetana has prominent side- and chin-whiskers creating a round facial appearance, but it has thin and short hair on neck and has a shorter tail.

 Cheng Li, Chao Zhao and Peng-Fei Fan. 2015. White-cheeked Macaque (Macaca leucogenys): A New Macaque Species from Modog, southeastern Tibet. American Journal of Primatology. (Am. J. Primatol.) DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22394

ResearchGate.net/publication/274092518_White-cheeked_macaque_(Macaca_leucogenys)_A_new_macaque_species_from_Modog_southeastern_Tibet

New monkey species revealed thanks to distinctive penis http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27317-new-monkey-species-revealed-thanks-to-distinctive-penis.html

[Primatology • 2013] Taxonomy of the Bornean Slow Loris Nycticebus (Primates: Lorisidae) | Nycticebus menagensis, N. bancanus, N. borneanus & N. kayan

More species of nocturnal primates are now recognized than in the past, because many are cryptic species. Subtle morphological disparities, such as pelage pattern and color variation, vocal cues, and genetics have aided in elucidating the number of diagnosable species in a genus. The slow lorises (genus Nycticebus) once included only two species, but recent taxonomic studies resulted in the description of three additional species; further incompletely explored variability characterizes each of the currently described species. The Bornean loris in particular is characterized by pelage and body size variation. In this study, we explored facemask variation in the Bornean loris (N. menagensis). Differing facemask patterns, particularly influenced by the amount of white on the face, significantly clustered together by geographic regions, separated by notable geographic boundaries. Our results support the recognition of four species of Bornean lorises: N. menagensis, N. bancanus, N. borneanus, and N. kayan. Genetic studies are required to support these findings and to refine further our understanding of the marked variability within the Bornean loris populations. 

Key words: Nycticebus menagensis; Nycticebus bancanus; Nycticebus borneanus; cryptic species; morphology; sympatric, allopatric

photo: http://www.nocturama.org/little-firefaces-2/borneos-new-lorises/

photo: http://www.nocturama.org/little-firefaces-2/borneos-new-lorises/

Taxonomy of the Lorises Nycticebus of Borneo

Nycticebus kayan Munds, Ford, Nekaris 2013  photo: http://wildborneo.com.my/thumbs.php?k=primate

Type locality: Peleben, East Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia

Etymology: The specific name kayan comes from the Kayan River, which flows through the range of the species, close to the type locality of Peleben.

Distribution: Nycticebus kayan is located in central and northern Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, and East Kalimantan). Its southern range extends to the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan and the Rajang River in Sarawak. It is found as far north as the base of the southern part of Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah. It spans the width of Borneo, east to west, but unlike its neighbor (N. menagensis), it appears not to be found along the coast. It is sympatric with N. menagensis in East Kalimantan and Sabah.

Three new species of venomous primate identified; May help protect rare primate from illegal trades: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121213172310.htm

http://phys.org/news/2012-12-species-borneo-enigmatic-primate-toxic.html via @physorg_com

R. Munds, S. Ford, K.A.I. Nekaris. 2013. Taxonomy of the Bornean Slow Loris, with New Species Nycticebus kayan (Primates: Lorisidae). American Journal of Primatology. 75 (1); 46-56 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22071

http://www.nocturama.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2013MundsetalBorneanLorisTaxonomy.pdf

[Primatology • 2013] Nycticebus kayan • Taxonomy of the Bornean Slow Loris (Primates: Lorisidae), with new Species from the central-east highland area of Borneo

Nycticebus kayan

photo: http://wildborneo.com.my/thumbs.php?k=primate

More species of nocturnal primates are now recognized than in the past, because many are cryptic species. Subtle morphological disparities, such as pelage pattern and color variation, vocal cues, and genetics have aided in elucidating the number of diagnosable species in a genus. The slow lorises (genus Nycticebus) once included only two species, but recent taxonomic studies resulted in the description of three additional species; further incompletely explored variability characterizes each of the currently described species. The Bornean loris in particular is characterized by pelage and body size variation. In this study, we explored facemask variation in the Bornean loris (N. menagensis). Differing facemask patterns, particularly influenced by the amount of white on the face, significantly clustered together by geographic regions, separated by notable geographic boundaries. Our results support the recognition of four species of Bornean lorises: N. menagensis, N. bancanus, N. borneanus, and N. kayan. Genetic studies are required to support these findings and to refine further our understanding of the marked variability within the Bornean loris populations.  

Key words: Nycticebus menagensis; Nycticebus bancanus; Nycticebus borneanus; cryptic species; morphology; sympatric, allopatric

Etymology: The specific name kayan comes from the Kayan River, which flows through the range of the species, close to the type locality of Peleben.

Distribution: Nycticebus kayan is located in central and northern Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, and East Kalimantan). Its southern range extends to the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan and the Rajang River in Sarawak. It is found as far north as the base of the southern part of Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah. It spans the width of Borneo, east to west, but unlike its neighbor (N. menagensis), it appears not to be found along the coast. It is sympatric with N. menagensis in East Kalimantan and Sabah.

Discovered: The new species of Borneo's enigmatic primate with a toxic bite 

An international team of scientists studying the elusive nocturnal primate the slow loris in the jungles of Borneo have discovered an entirely new species. The team's analysis of the primate's distinctive facial fur markings, published in the American Journal of Primatology, reveals the existence of one entirely new species, while two of species, previously considered as possible sub-species, are being officially recognized as unique. 

"Technological advances have improved our knowledge about the diversity of several nocturnal mammals," said Rachel Munds from the University of Missouri Columbia. "Historically many species went unrecognized as they were falsely lumped together as one species. While the number of recognized primate species has doubled in the past 25 years some nocturnal species remain hidden to science." The slow loris (Nycticebus) is a primate genus closely related to the lemur. Found across South East Asia, from Bangladesh and China's Yunnan province to the island of Borneo, the slow loris is rare amongst primates for having a toxic bite, and is rated as Vulnerable or Endangered on the IUCN Red List. 

Slow lorises are recognized by their unique fur coloration on the body and face, yet while traits such as fur patterns are often used to distinguish between species; nocturnal species are cryptic in coloration and have less obvious external differences. The team's research focused on the distinctive colorings of Borneo's slow loris, whose faces have an appearance of a mask, with the eyes being covered by distinct patches and their heads having varying shapes of caps on the top. 

Differences among these facemasks resulted in recognition of four species of Bornean and Philippine lorises, N. menagensis, N. bancanus, N. borneanus and N. kayan. Of these Nycticebus kayan is a new group unrecognized before as distinct. This new species is found in the central-east highland area of Borneo and is named for a major river flowing in its region, the Kayan. 

Nycticebus kayan

photo: http://wildborneo.com.my/thumbs.php?k=primate

The recognition of these new species strongly suggests that there is more diversity yet to be discovered in the jungles of Borneo and on the surrounding islands, including the Phillipines. However, much of this territory is threatened by human activity so the possibility that more slow loris species exist in small and fragile ranges raises urgent questions for conservation efforts. 

"The pet trade is a serious threat for slow lorises in Indonesia, and recognition of these new species raises issues regarding where to release confiscated Bornean slow lorises, as recognition by non-experts can be difficult," said co-author Professor Nekaris, from Oxford Brookes University.

 "In the first study to quantify facial mask differences we have recognized three new species of slow loris, two of which were recognized as subspecies at some point in the past, but are now elevated to species status, and one previously unrecognized group." concluded Ms Munds. "This finding will assist in conservation efforts for these enigmatic primates, although survey work in Borneo suggests the new species are either very difficult to locate or that their numbers may be quite small."

http://phys.org/news/2012-12-species-borneo-enigmatic-primate-toxic.html via @physorg_com

R. Munds, S. Ford, K.A.I. Nekaris. 2013. Taxonomy of the Bornean Slow Loris, with New Species Nycticebus kayan (Primates: Lorisidae). American Journal of Primatology. 75 (1); 46-56 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22071

http://www.nocturama.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2013MundsetalBorneanLorisTaxonomy.pdf