Lemurs of Madagascar (book)

Lemurs of Madagascar is a reference work and field guide for the lemurs of Madagascar with descriptions and biogeographic data for the known species. The primary contributor is Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International, and the cover art and illustrations are drawn by Stephen D. Nash. Currently in its fifth edition published in 2023, the book provides details about all known lemur species, general information about lemurs and their history, and tips for identifying species. Four related pocket field guides have also been released, containing color illustrations of each species, miniature range maps, and species checklists. The first edition was published in 1994 and was reviewed favorably in the International Journal of Primatology, Conservation Biology, and Lemur News. Reviewers, including Alison Jolly, praised the book for its depth of coverage, illustrations, and discussion of topics including conservation, evolution, and the recently extinct subfossil lemurs. Each agreed that the book was an excellent resource for a wide audience, including ecotourists and lemur researchers. A lengthy review of the second edition was published in the American Journal of Primatology, where it received similar favorable comments. The third edition was reviewed favorably in Lemur News; the reviewer praised the expanded content of the book but was concerned that the edition was not as portable as its predecessors. The first edition identified 50 lemur species and subspecies, compared to 71 in the second edition, 101 in the third, 102 in the fourth, and 112 in the fifth. The taxonomy promoted by these books has been questioned by researchers, such as Ian Tattersall, who view these growing quantities of lemur species as insufficiently justified inflation of species numbers.

Overview Lemurs of Madagascar is intended as a field guide that identifies all of the known lemur species from Madagascar. The first edition was published in 1994 and contained 356 pages. The 520-page second edition was published in 2006, having been followed by the 767-page third edition in the fall of 2010. The 841-page fourth edition, written in French and titled Lémuriens de Madagascar, was published in 2014. Lastly, the fifth and most recent edition is 975 pages long and was published in 2023. The first three editions are published by Conservation International (CI), a non-profit conservation organization headquartered near Washington, D.C.. The fourth is published by the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, and the fifth is published by the US-based nonprofit Re:wild. For all five editions, Stephen D. Nash has been the illustrator and front cover artist. The lead author for all five editions is Russell A. Mittermeier, president of CI and a primatologist, herpetologist and biological anthropologist. The first edition followed a similar 1982 volume by Ian Tattersall, entitled Primates of Madagascar. All five 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 provide suggestions on where to see each species, as well as checklists to help people keep track of their sightings. The purpose of the book is defined in its introduction: "to facilitate field identification of lemurs, to summarize available data on their ecology, distribution and conservation status, and to stimulate further interest in the survival of these animals in their natural habitats." Four pocket field guides illustrated by Nash have also been published by CI, providing over 100 species illustrations. Checklists are included with these guides, along with thumbnail range maps for each species. The four guides include two editions of Lemurs of Madagascar Pocket Identification Guide (out of print), Nocturnal Lemurs, and Diurnal and Cathemeral Lemurs. The Nocturnal Lemurs booklet contains 65 species from eight genera. Diurnal and Cathemeral Lemurs hosts 34 species and subspecies from seven genera, along with illustrations to show male and female fur color differences in the genus Eulemur and color morphs for the indri and ruffed lemur species. Fifth and sixth pocket field guides are planned following the publication of the third edition of the field guide.

Content

The "Introduction" in the first two editions was written by Peter A. Seligmann, Chairman of the Board and CEO of CI, and Mittermeier. In it, they emphasize Madagascar's primate diversity, summarize conservation efforts, and highlight recent discoveries, while also acknowledging the need for additional research. The chapter entitled "Origins of Lemurs" briefly summarizes the theories on how lemurs came to Madagascar and the difficulty in resolving the mystery. "Discovery and Study of the Living Lemurs" reviews the history of exploration, field research, and taxonomic nomenclature of lemurs, starting from the 1625 description of a ring-tailed lemur to contemporary research by Western and Malagasy scientists. "The Extinct Lemurs" discusses the recently extinct subfossil lemurs, including the monkey lemurs, sloth lemurs, and koala lemurs. "Conservation of Lemurs" details the threats lemurs face, such as habitat destruction and hunting for bushmeat, and conservation efforts aimed at their protection, such as programs of the Madagascar Fauna Group and political promises to expand protected areas. In the third edition, a new chapter was added, entitled "Madagascar's Ancient Geological History", written by Maarten de Wit from the University of Cape Town.

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