The history of the taxonomy of lemurs dates back to 1758 when Carl Linnaeus first classified them. Having undergone independent evolution on Madagascar, lemurs have occupied niches filled elsewhere by other mammals, and approximately 70 to 100 species and subspecies are recognized today. They include the smallest primates in the world, and once included some of the largest. Currently living lemur species are divided into five families and 15 genera. Since the arrival of humans around 2000 years ago, lemurs have become restricted to 10% of the island, and many face extinction. The recent steep increase in species numbers is due to improved genetic analysis, a push to encourage the protection of isolated lemur populations, and the elevation of existing subspecies to full species status. Concerns over lemur conservation have also affected their taxonomy, since distinct species receive increased conservation attention.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy_of_lemurs
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1935:
In an effort to stay out of the growing European conflict, the United States passed the first of its Neutrality Acts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutrality_Acts_of_the_1930s
1959:
A parcel bomb sent by Ngô Đình Nhu, younger brother and chief adviser of President Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam, failed to kill Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ng%C3%B4_%C4%90%C3%ACnh_Nhu
1969:
Approximately 150,000 people attended the Isle of Wight Festival, which featured Bob Dylan in his first gig since 1966. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Wight_Festival_1969
2016:
President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil was impeached and removed from office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilma_Rousseff
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
chantwell: (chiefly Trinidad and Tobago, music) A (generally female) lead singer of traditional cariso music, or of a calypso band. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chantwell
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man's future. --Maria Montessori https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Maria_Montessori
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