Dissertation Research: The Phylogenetic Affinities of the Cheirogaleidae

灵长类科Cheirogaleidae被分类在 链鼻亚目，包括狐猴形灵长类 来自马达加斯加岛的灵长类和来自非洲和亚洲的Lorisiform灵长类。 唇齿鲸科的确切位置， 在马达加斯加，这已经是一个问题了。 传统上 它们被安置在马达加斯加的其他灵长类动物中， 在地理学的基础上。 然而，最新的分类， 将它们与非洲/亚洲的Lorisiform灵长类动物放在一起， 头骨底部特征的基础。 这一提议解决了一个问题： 与狐猴形目或 Lorisiform灵长类动物？ 一些数据集，包括 解剖学、胚胎学和遗传学信息将被检查 来确定他们的关系 澄清 手盔类的亲缘关系将是显着的至少三个 原因 分类是必要的， 亲缘关系 对姐妹团体的理解 手盔类和其他链霉菌之间的关系 必须确定同源性与 收敛 而且，如果掌盔兽和Lorisiforms 密切相关，它将证实， 马达加斯加和非洲一定发生在 灵长类动物

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.