Lemur

From Latin lemurēs (“spirits of the dead”). The name was originally given to the slender loris (then Lemur tardigradus) in 1754 by Carl Linnaeus. According to Linnaeus, the name was selected because of the nocturnal activity and slow movements of the slender loris. In 1758, Linnaeus added—among others—the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) to the genus Lemur. All other species, including the slender loris, were eventually moved to other genera. In time, the word became the colloquial name for all primates endemic to Madagascar.

A taxonomic genus within the family Lemuridae – ring-tailed lemur.


Lorisiformes

A taxonomic infraorder within the order Primates – lorises, pottos and galagos.


Lorisidae

A taxonomic family within the order Primates – lorisids: lorises and pottos, of tropical, central Africa as well as in south and southeast Asia.

Arctocebus

(family): Lorinae, Perodicticinae – extant subfamilies


Perodicticinae

A taxonomic subfamily within the family Lorisidae – pottos.


Loris

From French loris, believed to be from Dutch loeris (“simpleton”).

A taxonomic genus within the family Lorisidae – slender lorises.


Galagidae

A taxonomic family within the order Primates – the galagos or bushbabies.


Lemuriformes

A taxonomic infraorder within the order Primates – the lemurs.


Cheirogaleoidea

A taxonomic superfamily within the order Primates – dwarf lemurs and mouse lemurs.


Cheirogaleidae

A taxonomic family within the order Primates – dwarf lemurs and mouse lemurs.


Chiromyiformes

A taxonomic infraorder within the order Primates – the aye-ayes.


Daubentoniidae

A taxonomic family within the order Primates – the aye-ayes.


Daubentonia

From French Daubenton (“a surname”) + -ia; after 18th-century French naturalist Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton.

A taxonomic genus within the family Daubentoniidae – the aye-ayes, lemurs, of Madagascar.


Lemuroidea

A taxonomic superfamily within the order Primates – the lemurs.


Lemuridae

A taxonomic family within the order Primates – the true lemurs.


Tarsiidae

A taxonomic family within the order Primates – the tarsiers.


Tarsius

→ Greek: τάρσιος (társios)

Calque of French tarsier as Ancient Greek τᾰρσός (tărsós, “tarsus”) + Ancient Greek -ῐος (-ĭos, relational-adjective suffix).

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A taxonomic genus within the family Tarsiidae – the tarsiers.


Galago

A taxonomic genus within the family Galagidae – the lesser bushbabies or nagapies.


Prolemur simus

greater bamboo lemur
greater bamboo lemur

A taxonomic species within the family Lemuridae – greater bamboo lemur.


Prolemur

From Ancient Greek πρό (pró, “before”) + Lemur.

A taxonomic genus within the family Lemuridae – greater bamboo lemur.


Tarsius syrichta

A taxonomic species within the family Tarsiidae – the Philippine tarsier, now treated as Carlito syrichta, part of a different genus.


Carlito syrichta

A taxonomic species within the family Tarsiidae – the Philippine tarsier, formerly treated as Tarsius syrichta, part of another genus of Tarsiidae.


Carlito

A taxonomic genus within the family Tarsiidae – a genus of tarsiers recently split from Tarsius, consisting solely of the Philippine tarsier.


Cheirogaleus

From Ancient Greek χείρ (kheír, “hand”) and Ancient Greek γαλέη (galéē, “weasel”).

A taxonomic genus within the family Cheirogaleidae – dwarf lemurs.


Pachylemur

pachy- (“thick”) + Lemur m (“ring-tailed lemur”)

A taxonomic genus within the family Lemuridae – certain extinct lemurids.


Varecia

A taxonomic genus within the family Lemuridae – ruffed lemurs.


Eulemur

A taxonomic genus within the family Lemuridae – true lemurs.


Perodicticus

A taxonomic genus within the family Lorisidae – pottos.


Arctocebus

A taxonomic genus within the family Lorisidae – angwantibos.


Nycticebus

A taxonomic genus within the family Lorisidae – slow lorises.


Cynocephalus

From cyno- (“dog”, from Ancient Greek κύων (kúōn)) + -cephalus (“head”).

from Ancient Greek <i class="Polyt mention" lang="grc">κύων</i> (kúōn)

Philippine flying lemur
Philippine flying lemur

A taxonomic genus within the family Cynocephalidae – the Philippine flying lemur.