Revised Body Mass Estimates for Extinct Lemurs.

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Primatology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Accurate body mass estimates are crucial for understanding extinct animals' behavior, ecology, and evolution.
• Previous estimates for extinct lemurs lacked phylogenetic considerations, potentially affecting accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update body mass estimates for extinct lemurs using phylogenetically informed methods.
• To improve reconstructions of behavioral ecology and ecological adaptations.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed 64 femora from 10 extinct lemur species using micro-CT scanning.
• Applied phylogenetically generalized least squares (pGLS) regression models with femoral cortical surface area (FCSA) and femoral length (FL).
• Used Akaike information criterion (AIC) and adjusted R² to evaluate model fits.

Main Results:

• Femoral cortical surface area (FCSA) was the best predictor of body mass (BM) among living primates.
• Updated body mass estimates for extinct lemurs were consistently smaller than prior estimates.
• Provided 95% prediction limits and weighted average body mass estimates for each species.

Conclusions:

• Updated estimates offer a more accurate foundation for studying extinct lemur life history, morphometrics, and adaptations.
• Highlights the importance of integrating evolutionary context into paleontological research.
• Emphasizes the need for phylogenetically informed approaches in estimating extinct animal body mass.