Palaeopropithecus

Palaeopropithecus
Temporal range:
Front view of P. maximus skull
Extinct
Extinct (1620) (IUCN 3.1) (P. ingens)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: †Palaeopropithecidae
Genus: †Palaeopropithecus
G. Grandider, 1899
Type species
Palaeopropithecus ingens
G. Grandidier, 1899
Species
Map of Madagascar, off the southeast coast of Africa, with two red dots in the north of the island, one blue dot near the middle, and fifteen green dots in the southwest and west parts of the island. There is also one blue explanation mark in the extreme northwest and a red explanation mark in the southwest.
Subfossil sites for Palaeopropithecus
red=P. kelyus; green=P. ingens;
blue=P. maximus

Palaeopropithecus is a recently extinct genus of large sloth lemurs from Madagascar related to living lemur species found there today. Three species are known, Palaeopropithecus ingens, P. maximus, and P. kelyus. Radiocarbon dates indicate that they may have survived until around 1300–1620 CE. Malagasy legends of the tretretretre or tratratratra are thought to refer to P. ingens.

Evidence suggests a solely arboreal lifestyle with frequent upside down suspension, hence the name sloth lemur.

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