Dissertation Research: The Phylogenetic Affinities of the Cheirogaleidae

灵长类动物Cheirogaleidae被归入链鼻目亚目，包括来自马达加斯加的狐猴状灵长类动物和来自非洲和亚洲的棒状灵长类动物。一段时间以来，只有在马达加斯加才能发现的切罗伽利科的确切位置一直是一个问题。传统上，它们被放在马达加斯加的其他灵长类动物中，主要是基于生物地理。然而，最新的分类主要是根据头骨底部的特征将它们归类为非洲/亚洲棒状灵长类动物。这个建议解决了这样一个问题：灵长类灵长类动物是与狐猴形目动物关系更密切，还是与狐猴形目灵长类动物关系更密切？将检查包括解剖学、胚胎学和遗传学信息在内的许多数据集，以确定它们之间的关系。由于至少三个原因，对脊椎动物亲缘关系的澄清将具有重要意义。一个与系统发育关系相称的分类是必要的。为了确定同源与趋同的影响，有必要了解脊椎动物和其他链状动物之间的姐妹群关系。而且，如果脊椎动物和长臂猿之间的亲缘关系更近，这将证实马达加斯加和非洲之间的多次迁徙肯定发生在灵长类动物的历史上。

The primate Family Cheirogaleidae is classified within the suborder Strepsirhini which includes both lemuriform primates from Madagascar and lorisiform primates from Africa and Asia. The exact placement of the Cheirogaleidae, which are found only in Madagascar, has been a problem for some time. Traditionally they have been placed with the other Madagascar primates, largely on a biogeographic basis. Most recent classifications, however, place them with the African/Asian lorisiform primates, largely on the basis of features in the base of the skull. This proposal addresses the question: are the cheirogaleid primates more closely related to the lemuriform or to the lorisiform primates? A number of data sets, including anatomical, embryological, and genetic information will examined to determine their relationships. The clarification of cheirogaleid affinities will be significant for at least three reasons. A classification is necessary that is commensurate with phylogenetic relationships. An understanding of the sister-group relationships between cheirogaleids and other strepsirhines is necessary to determine the effects of homology versus convergence. And, if cheirogaleids and lorisiforms are more closely related it will confirm that multiple migrations between Madagascar and Africa must have occurred during the history of the primates.