Craniometric corroboration of the specific status of Lepilemur septentrionalis, an endemic lemur from the north of Madagascar

Abstract

The disputed taxonomy of the genus Lepilemur I. Geoffroy, 1851 has been clarified considerably by cytogenetic techniques, especially analysis of karyotypes. An allopatric species of Lepilemur, L. septentrionalis, has been created recently on the basis of cytogenetic distinctions (Rumpler & Albignac, 1975). L. septentrionalis is shown here to be significantly smaller than the morphologically similar L. dorsalis in thirty-four of thirty-seven linear cranial dimensions, but significantly larger in interorbital breadth (lacrimale-lacrimale). Craniometric results therefore reinforce the cytogenetic conclusion that L. septentrionalis is a valid species distinct from L. dorsalis.