The Giant Extinct Lemurs of Madagascar

During the Pleistocene and Holocene, the island of Madagascar was home to a much greater diversity of lemurs than today, many of which reached large sizes.
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[@isaacthemonke233]

The fact that giant lemurs were around not too long ago is both amazing and kinda terrifying. Imagine in an alternate universe, these fellas are still alive and unfortunately critically endangered

[@Troupe_Master]

Why would it be terrifying 😂😂wtf

[@cro-magnoncarol4017]

It's terrifying to me because it shows how quickly humans could have wiped out the megafauna in other regions of the world...

[@Troupe_Master]

@@cro-magnoncarol4017 now THAT is reasonable 👌🏿

[@macgyversmacbook1861]

@@Troupe_Master can you imagine living in Madagascar and an eight foot long Zabumafoo came strolling through your village? That WOULD be horrifying

[@jjerg]

Imagine on a similar planet, a galaxy or two away, they were the primate that evolved intelligence instead of us apes.They have a few million years on the apes so their technology is a few million years more advanced. They have to have interstellar spaceships by now and bad ass laser guns. Maybe they even detected earth and are a generation of two away from a ship that can get here. I don't even want to think about what an Aye Aye could do with that digit if they were highly intelligent and physically superior. 😁😁

[@rl9217]

Madagascar is such a bizarre but interesting place. I’d love to see a documentary that covers its Cenozoic fauna. It be great see the giant lemurs, tiny hippos, elephant birds, and horned crocodiles get the spotlight. Also, I’m excited for the next video about ostriches! I recommended that topic in the comments of the last video, and regardless of whether that was taken into consideration when the decision was made I’m happy to hear the topic will get covered! Ostriches are some of the most interesting birds alive today, and their history is fascinating given they’re the most distantly related of all the ratites.

[@TheHortoman]

Nah, crocs, "cats" and "monkeys" nothing too weird. Except for the elephant bird lol

[@jacobhoover1654]

Don't forget their unique chameleon

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Madagascar has always been pretty damn weird.

[@impishinformation7237]

I can’t imagine how bizarre madagascar must have seemed to the first people to arrive there, most of the animals there have no close comparisons elsewhere, especially not in southeast asia where the first inhabitants of madagascar came from

[@WaterShowsProd]

That is a very intriguing thought. We think of Europeans venturing into Africa and Australia and seeing things unlike any they had experienced before (less so in The Americas) but this really would be like The Lost World to those people.

[@salkoharper2908]

Madagascar, Hawaii and New Zealand. All isolated landmasses or islands that have very unique and rare species of Flora and Fauna even today.

[@WaterShowsProd]

@@salkoharper2908 I saw a news story today about a trail camera in Indonesia-it didn't say which island-that captured an image of an Attenborough's Echidna, a long-nosed echidna that was first discovered in The 1960s and has evaded detection since then. I didn't know there were any monotremes still living outside of Australia/New Zealand/Tasmania. I realise Indonesia isn't tremendously far, but it's really a different biome, so I was quite surprised.

[@ekosubandie2094]

@@WaterShowsProd the said island is Papua and it was once connected to mainland Australia during Pleistocene, so it would make sense that the island would have echidnas in it the same way as how marsupials like possums and macropods are there too In fact, the island itself is home to most species of them today

[@richardmyhan3369]

I'm imagining Mort from "Madagascar", but the size of an elephant. 😂😂

[@Mark_nobody3]

King Jullian “Ah…. Yes, My ancestors really did like to move it, Move it”

[@matthewwelsh294]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@markykid8760]

You pick the coolest animals, Dr. P! Imagine these things. Amazing.

[@markykid8760]

Oh they all died recently ☹️ cos of us

[@mamboo0743]

King Julian's ancestors weren't messing around Seen one art of this huge guy with a dead fossa

[@saroruhagoswami9202]

Paradise destroyed by Pesky Humans ...😢

[@Nightscape_]

Now I want to make an nice Lemur habitat in my Planet Zoo game.

[@stupidminotaur9735]

They are reports suggesting them surviving into the 1400-1750's. With new research suggesting pymgy hippos surving up to 1800-1900s. its not hard to thick small isolated populations surving to close to pressent. also the pygmy hippo reports saying natives hearing them from the 1960's

[@jointcerulean3350]

And research from Evon Hekkala suggests that the robust horned crocodile voay robustus persisted up until the 1860s and was reported about from locals and explorers. It’s possible some relic population could exist for the pigmy hippos and homred crocodile in remote swamps, swamp forest, or river systems perhaps.

[@stupidminotaur9735]

@@jointcerulean3350 got a link to that? if so plz and ty

[@jointcerulean3350]

Indeed, One of the articles is from Sci news, called “Ancient DNA sheds light on evolutionary history of extinct horned crocodile” this article briefly mentions that part of the locals consistently report of two croc species being present on Madagascar a Gracile from and a robust form. A loathe robust form, and A gracile form with a preference for rivers, the gracile form being the currently present population of Nile crocs. “Researchgate, plaeogeonomics illuminates the evolutionary history of the the extinct Holocene horned crocodile of Madagascar, voay robustus. And Also an article from the American museum of natural history with the same title as the first article gives more details. And how it was probably still around when pirates got stranded on the island. Still have to find the the horned crocodile making it up to 1860s report, source.

[@jorgerangel2390]

Convergent evolution is such a topic, thank you for the video

[@nckojita]

my respect for u spiked so high when you pointed out the famine as a direct threat to madagascar’s wildlife rather than leaving it at bushmeat 🫶🏻 pressure on human populations of island countries and especially impoverished ones as well as those experiencing the worst effects of climate change only fuels extinctions. we can’t help endangered species if we don’t help ourselves as well!

[@ZeFroz3n0ne907]

Good day, Dr. P. How are you doing today? Hope you are well! Take care! Love your videos!

[@hugo8851]

How amazing would it be to be able to see this animals alive today.

[@dylans0630]

Yeah, but terrifying as well. These creatures could have been more aggressive and dangerous than chimpanzees. Or they might have been passive. I don’t know.

[@hugo8851]

@@dylans0630Most of these creatures went extinct when man arrived to Madagascar, who is the terrifying, dangerous and aggressive species now?

[@dylans0630]

@@hugo8851 modern lemurs are very hostile, especially towards their own species. When I think of giant lemurs, I imagine them being like chimpanzees and .. hehe, Humans as well. If you know anything about chimpanzees, the less said the better. But, you’re right about mega fauna extinction and Humans moving to Madagascar. Perhaps they were more like gorillas or orangutans. Passive and non predatory. Yeah.. maybe.

[@naomiseraphina9718]

Archaeoindris was the sasquatch of lemurs! Delightful! Marvelous video as always, Dr. Polaris! Thank you for sharing your fascinating knowledge!

[@jonathan_narain1189]

It's strange that there aren't really any carnivorous Lemurs.

[@mad555555]

This is an amazing channel. I love your narration and your artwork visuals. I hope you blow up. You deserve it!

[@chheinrich8486]

I like to move it, move it😅

[@gtprime2410]

Prehistoric animals are my favorite animals to possibly learn about!

[@Piperdogloveshats]

I was looking forward to this! Thank you for not disappointing

[@sauraplay2095]

This just kidda made me sad, but is was also very cool! Fantastic video docter!

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

i know that alot of animals rafted over to madagascar but did anything persist directly from when it broke off from the other landmasses?

[@dr.polaris6423]

That’s a good question. I think there are some archaic frogs that have Cretaceous ancestors but the majority of Madagascar’s fauna is composed of Cenozoic immigrants.

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

@@dr.polaris6423 that's interesting

[@posticusmaximus1739]

I think the same goes for flora. Most are Cenozoic arrivals instead of lineages from Gondwana.

[@erichtomanek4739]

Excellent video, informative and visually appealing. When you said Madagascar split from India (which I didn't know) my first thought was: But the west coast of Madagascar split from the southeast coast of Africa (I don't know when). Even today the coastlines roughly fit together. Perhaps the Lemurs' ancestors didn't cross the Mozambique Channel, but waltzed across from Africa to Madagascar before it even formed! A Ghost Lineage indeed! I gotta mention, when you said "Sifaka" (spelling?) I initially heard "Chewbacca!" Huh!? What!? Oh! It's me, not you ......

[@Angie2343]

Zoboomafoo's distant relatives!

[@hope1575]

I had no idea there were species so large, nor that they survived until so recently!

[@blackreign673]

i swear every major species has at least 1 form of some mutant scary giant

[@sirteddyproductions35]

Also was wondering for awhile, what’s the music in the background called?

[@user-md9yv7jx2c]

Thanks, I'd heard this thing described as Cow Like but didn't understand why.

[@takenname8053]

Would have liked giant Lemurs

[@tomdarco2223]

Right On

[@eldraque4556]

cool video

[@lantiguartofficial]

I'm always fascinated by the scientific observation of giant animals

[@maozilla9149]

nice

[@The_PokeSaurus]

Anyone else remember the documentary What Killed The Mega Beasts? That's where I learned about Giant Lemurs.

[@bigred8438]

Excellent presentation. Is there a more diverse array of primates than the lemurs? I some how doubt it. A great shame about all the recently extinct members of the various clades.

[@posticusmaximus1739]

Too bad we just missed out on them

[@luukzilla1519]

Random off topic question, is Astorgosuchus the biggest Crocodilian?

[@FB13]

I'm pretty sure it's deinosuchus

[@gustavo-xd5uc]

​@@FB13e o purusaurus ele não é maior?

[@kilianteni7884]

No. Deinosuchus is 3-4tons heavier.

[@jointcerulean3350]

It could possibly rival or be on par with purussaurus perhaps. Though it’s currently from fragmentary fossil material, more fossils would need to be found to find more tantalizing answers if it was the largest Cenozoic crocodilian. Also the largest terrestrial species was barinasuchus, and one other sebecid and terrestrial mekosuchine.

[@Dylan-Hooton]

It's really sad that all of these giant lemurs are extinct. It would have been way better if these were all still alive today.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

11:25 The Emu/Cassowary hybrid is a bit ridiculous....

[@carlhoode9183]

Love me some gorilemurs.

[@battledummie5656]

Zoboomafoo what if

[@LuisAldamiz]

Call me skeptic re. the rafting hypotheses for primate dispersion: lemurs are known to have existed in India and there have been some proposals claiming (without fossil evidence admittedly) a much older radiation of the primates, lemurs included, before Pangea fully split. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

[@obiwahndagobah9543]

Then lemurs must have been older than any other placental mammal group. Pangea split up during the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. That is the time first primitive mammals just evolved. You probably ment Gondwana, but even it did split up much to early

[@LuisAldamiz]

@@obiwahndagobah9543 - I actually think that the same applies (mutatis mutandi) re. monkeys, who must have reached South America when it was still attached (or at least very very close) to Africa, etc. What we have is a minimum chronology of KNOWN FOSSILS but it's a well known fact that fossils preserve extremely bad in jungle conditions, even much more recently we lack human from such areas, while we have lots of stone tools instead. Also we're probably underestimating the placentariness of KNOWN early mammal fossils, or in general the antiquity of divergency and diversification of the mammal evolutionary tree. There was also some academic research a decade ago (that I know of, not any specialist myself) claiming that miscalibrating and misinterpreting the so-called "molecular clock" was adding to this confusion.

[@altanativeftw2625]

After ostriches, can we get an episode on Dasyuromorphia (thylacines, dasyurids, numbats, and a couple oddball extinct relatives)?

[@ransonhorse534]

First Comment!!! 👍👍👍

[@technologic21]

Living Gremlins!

[@nogo6880]

Yo what da dog doing

[@christopherellis2663]

The extinct giant lemurs...syntax

[@danieltabin6470]

I am hopeful that we can one day revive these animals thanks to the fact that their bones still harbor DNA

[@aj9969]

King Julien, what are they ? WHAT ARE THEY ?

[@blazingtrs6348]

megaladapis looks so wrong. it has the head of a tapir but it was a primate

[@Monada79]

Oh God! I like to move it move it the hell away from these creatures!

[@barbararice6650]

2:30 isn't it adorable 😁

[@HassanMohamed-rm1cb]

Hey Dr.Polaris, right after the evolution and the history of the Ostriches and all of the other Ratite Species, why don’t you also get to make a suggestion to create the KZbin Videos Shows about the evolution and the history of the Extinct Prehistoric Giant Predatory Sea Birds called the Pelagornithidae in the next couple of weeks to think about that one coming up next?!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍

[@lucaramirez9339]

Omg someone clone these things I want to see them

[@Astrapionte]

You can’t do the lemurs and not do the elephant birds!! Do them next!!!!

[@earthknight60]

The image of the giant ground dwelling lamur at 8:30 is by the Vietnamese artist Dao Van Hoang. It's one of the paintings he did for the auction at one of the International Primate Society conferences. You really should include the names of all the artists who you're using work from.

[@EinarEle]

The background music is distracting.

[@waylon2432]

Promo'SM 🤗

[@keza3250]

The origin of LEMURS is gondwanan Relic LEMURS occur in Australia,Indonesia and surrounding islands In Australia we have greater gliders and lemuroid possums LEMURS evolved on the southern super continent

[@obiwahndagobah9543]

These are marsupials. Not at all related to lemurs. Lemurs are primates. If you look at the actual body instead of going by general appearance, you'll find they are anatomically very different.

[@keza3250]

@@obiwahndagobah9543 gondwanan origin period Africa,south America Australia,india,and Madagascar were all connected at one time or another Homo erectus skulls and an endo cast Were found in Australia too but the scientific community ignore it An LEMURS are found throughout south east Asia an Indonesian archipelago The origin of the LEMURS is gondwanan but once the southern super continent broke up it allowed further species radiation of the LEMURS on a island ecosystem called Madagascar Flightless birds Monitor lizards Lemurs An many more animals evolved on the gondwanan landmass

[@pelangisinghasari7036]

Vlad tomov

[@MrManatee101]

The intro song is ridiculously annoying. No one says it, but we are all thinking it.