Megaladapis

Megaladapis, informally known as the koala lemur, is a genus belonging to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three extinct species of giant lemurs that once inhabited the island of Madagascar.

In the Series 4 episode "New Arrivals", a pair of Megaladapis were brought to the park from Early Holocene Madagascar, 2,000 years ago. They reside in the Ape-Man Jungle Enclosure with other lemurs.

Facts[]

Era & Discovery[]

Megaladapis lived in Madagascar during the Early Pleistocene to the Early Holocene from 2 million to 2,000 years ago. It was among the largest lemurs that had ever lived.

The first Megaladapis fossils were discovered by Swiss zoologist and vertebrate palaeontologist Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major in 1894.

Physical Attributes[]

Standing 5 feet rall and weighing 140 kilograms, Megaladapis was the largest lemur ever to have lived. They had long fingers and toes that allowed this primate to climb tree they lived in. Unlike most primates who's eyes face forward, Megaladapis' eyes were on the sides of it's head and a long snout compared to most primates. It's canine teeth were big compared to modern lemurs and made to feast on vegetation.

Although Megaladapis was a tree-dweller, the animal had a fatal flaw which was that the lemur was a clown when on the ground due to it's long fingers and toes. If Megaladapis were removed from it's forest home, it would have been vulnerable to many threats.

Behavior & Traits[]

Unlike modern lemurs and other primates, Megaladapis behaved much like Koalas that live in Australia. It was mostly a solitary animal except when breeding season came.

Journal Entry[]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

Megaladapis is the the largest and only prehistoric lemur brought to the park.
The sound effects of Megaladapis consist of bear sounds.