July 16, 2012 12:10 pm Lemurs, a subset of primates that live
only on the island nation of Madagascar off the southeastern
coast of the African mainland, are the most threatened group of
vertebrates on the planet. Ninety-four of 103 known lemur
species are threatened, according to LiveScience, with 23 deemed
“critically endangered,” an uptick from 10 species given that
status when a similar report was produced seven years ago.
LiveScience says, Of all the world’s animals living on the verge
of extinction, Madagascar’s lemurs are teetering closest to the
brink. A new assessment of these primates reveals they are
probably the most endangered group of vertebrates on Earth,
beating out all other mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and
bony fish for the dismal distinction. The Coquerel’s Sifaka, for
instance, is one of the 52 species of lemur that’s reached
endangered status. (Nineteen species are at the lower
“threatened” designation.) This one lives at the Duke Lemur
Center: Those that live in the wild, though,