Definition

Noun: - The type genus of the family Lemuridae: This is the biological classification genus that serves as the reference point for the family Lemuridae, which includes typical lemurs. The genus Lemur is now considered to contain only a single extant species, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta).

Usage

• This term is used in scientific and zoological contexts to refer specifically to the genus that is the standard for its family.
• It is a proper noun and is typically italicized in scientific writing.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The genus Lemur is native to Madagascar.
  • In taxonomy, genus Lemur is the type genus for the family Lemuridae.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic hierarchy: The term is used to denote the central genus within a family, against which other genera are compared.
  • When describing new lemur species, scientists compare their characteristics to those of the genus Lemur.

Variants and Related Words

• Lemuridae (n): The biological family name for lemurs, for which is the type genus.
• Lemur catta (n): The scientific name for the ring-tailed lemur, the sole extant species within the genus .
• Prosimian (n): A suborder of primates that includes lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers.

Synonyms

• Type genus of Lemuridae: This is the precise descriptive synonym in taxonomic language.

Notes

• In modern taxonomy, the genus is monotypic (containing only one species). Other animals commonly called lemurs (e.g., mouse lemurs, woolly lemurs) belong to different genera within the family Lemuridae or other families.
• The word "lemur" itself, used commonly, refers to all primates of the infraorder Lemuriformes.

Noun

1. type genus of the Lemuridae