Groves' dwarf lemur

Groves' dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus grovesi) is a species of dwarf lemur known from Ranomafana and Andringitra national parks and surrounding areas in southeastern Madagascar. The identification was based on comparison of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences with other members of the C. crossleyi group (C. andysabini, C. crossleyi, C. lavasoensis and an unnamed possible new species, "CCS2").^[2] Individuals from this clade first came under genetic study in 1999 and were recognized as a new species in 2014,^[3] but it was not formally described until 2017.^[2] The lemur was named after mammalologist Colin Groves.^[2] Known from altitudes from 754 to 999 m, it is significantly larger than other members of the C. crossleyi group, with a 20 cm body length, a 29 cm tail, and a weight of 0.41 kg.^[2] While the conservation status of the new species has not yet been assessed, its presence in several national parks does not guarantee that it will not be threatened by deforestation ongoing on the island, or possibly by hunting.^[2]

Groves' dwarf lemur
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Strepsirrhini
Family:	Cheirogaleidae
Genus:	Cheirogaleus
Species:	C. grovesi
Binomial name
Cheirogaleus grovesi McLain et al., 2017[2]

References

1. Blanco, M.; Dolch, R.; Donati, G.; Ganzhorn, J.; Greene, L.K.; Le Pors, B.; Lewis, R.; Louis, E.E.; Rafalinirina, H.A.; Raharivololona, B.; Ralison, J.; Randriahaingo, H.N.T.; Rasoloarison, R.M.; Razafindrasolo, M.; Sgarlata, G.M.; Wright, P.; Zaonarivelo, J. (2020). "Cheirogaleus grovesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T163021927A163021999. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T163021927A163021999.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. McLain, A. T.; Lei, R.; Frasier, C. L.; Taylor, J. M.; Bailey, C. A.; Robertson, B. A. D.; Nash, S. D.; Randriamanana, J. C.; Mittermeier, R. A.; Louis, E. E. Jr. (2017). "A New Cheirogaleus (Cheirogaleidae: Cheirogaleus crossleyi Group) Species from Southeastern Madagascar" (PDF). Primate Conservation. 31: 27–36.
3. Lei, R.; Frasier, C. L.; McLain, A. T.; Taylor, J. M.; Bailey, C. A.; Engberg, S. E.; Ginter, A. L.; Randriamampionona, R.; Groves, C. P.; Mittermeier, R. A.; Louis, E. E. Jr. (2014). "Revision of Madagascar's Dwarf Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Cheirogaleus): Designation of Species, Candidate Species Status and Geographic Boundaries Based on Molecular and Morphological Data". Primate Conservation. 28 (1): 9–35. doi:10.1896/052.028.0110. hdl:1885/14677. S2CID 84896906.