Biodiversity research at DPZ involves all aspects of biological diversity of non-human primates. Specifically, we work on the identification and description of new species, reconstruct primate phylogeny and phylogeography, and investigate how primates interact with and adapt to their environment on an ecological, behavioural and genomic level.
New Species
We have been involved in the description of 25 primate species so far. Many of these species are threatened. Knowledge about their distribution, ecology and genetic differences is essential to protect these species effectively.
South America
![[Translate to English:] Cacajao amuna. Zeichnung: Stephen Nash](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/3/csm_Uakari_Cacajao-amuna_StephenNash_296c228021.jpg)
Cacajao amuna
(Silva et al. 2022)
Asia
![Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, male. Photo: Tilo Nadler](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/c/csm_Schopfgibbon_maennlich_01_439eb9e4b4.jpg)
Nomascus annamensis (Thin et al. 2010)
Press release...
![Selangor Silvery Langur. Photo: Tilo Nadler](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/4/csm_Silberlangur_01_0440cf55a3.jpg)
Trachypithecus selangorensis
(Roos et al. 2008)
![Skywalker Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing). Photo: Fan Peng-Fei](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/a/csm_Skywalker_600x600_80f1e80b56.jpg)
Hoolock tianxing
(Fan et al. 2017)
![Tapanuli Orang-Utan (Pongo tapanuliensis). Photo:](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/d/csm_Tapanuli_600x600_1d8e6404e6.jpg)
Pongo tapanuliensis
(Nater et al. 2017)
Press release...
![Popa langur (Trachypithecus popa). Photo: Thaung Win](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/3/csm_Fig6_Popa-Langur_eba16db6a9.jpg)
Trachypithecus popa
(Roos et al. 2020)
Press release...
Madagascar
![Peyrieras' Woolly Lemur. Photo: Ph. Barazer](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/a/csm_2006-01-01_Avahi_peyrierasi_bcb7ac39f2.jpg)
Avahi peyrierasi (Zaramody et al. 2006)
![Southern Woolly Lemur. Photo: I. Norscia](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/2/csm_2006-01-01_Avahi_meridionalis_meridionalis_e8a8e9f7a0.jpg)
Avahi meridionalis meridionalis (Zaramody et al. 2006)
![Manombo Woolly Lemur. Photo: N. Adriaholinirina](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/f/csm_2006-01-01_Avahi_meridionalis_ramanantsoavani_2e670785b7.jpg)
Avahi meridionalis ramanantsoavani
(Zaramody et al. 2006)
![Goodman's Mouse Lemur. Photo: R. Zingg](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/8/csm_2005-01-01_Microcebus-lehilahytsara_20b54bbc3c.jpg)
Microcebus lehilahytsara
(Roos & Kappeler in Kappeler et al. 2005)
![Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur. Photo: Manfred Eberle](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/2/csm_Microcebus-berthae-kleinster_Primat-der-Welt_ae154b0f75.jpg)
Microcebus berthae
(Rasoloarison et al. 2000)
Press release...
![Northern Giant Mouse Lemur. Photo: D. Haring](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/4/csm_2005-01-01_mirza-zaza-1_aaf3e14354.jpg)
Mirza zaza
(Roos & Kappeler in Kappeler et al. 2005)
Press release...
![Marohita Mouse Lemur. Photo: Bellarmin Ramahefarsoa](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/2/csm_Microcebus_marohita_9-G_d6a7a56696.jpg)
Microcebus marohita (Rasoloarison et al. 2013)
![Pygmy Mouse Lemur. Photo: Bikeadventure at Wikipedia](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/4/csm_Microcebus_myoxinus_9100dc2d93.jpg)
Microcebus myoxinus (Rasoloarison et al. 2000)
![Antafia Sportive Lemur. Photo: Urs Thalmann](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/c/csm_Lepilemur_aeeclis_cd02a90966.jpg)
Lepilemur aeeclis (Andriaholinirina et al. 2006)
![Bemaraha Sportive Lemur. Photo: N. Adriaholinirina](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/e/csm_Lepilemur_randrianasoli_23e5f7804e.jpg)
Lepilemur radrianasoli (Andriaholinirina et al. 2006)
![Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur. Photo: Roland Hilgartner](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/b/csm_Lepilemur_sahamalazensis_ca0d7b1d44.jpg)
Lepilemur sahamalazensis
(Andriaholinirina et al. 2006)
![Ganzhorn's mouse lemur. Photo: Guiseppe Donati](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/c/csm_Microcebus_ganzhorni_neu_ddb5b09e6e.jpeg)
Microcebus ganzhorni
(Hotaling et al. 2016)
Press release...
Mittermeier's Sportive Lemur Lepilemur mittermeieri
(Rabarivola et al. 2006)
Grey-brown Mouse Lemur Microcebus griseorufus
(Rasoloarison et al. 2000)
Sambirano Mouse Lemur Microcebus sambiranensis
(Rasoloarison et al. 2000)
Northern Rufous Mouse Lemur Microcebus tavaratra
(Rasoloarison et al. 2000)
Anosy Mouse Lemur Microcebus tanosi
(Rasoloarison et al. 2013)
Manitatra Mouse Lemur Microcebus manitatra
(Hotaling et al. 2016)
Bohara Mouse Lemur Micorcebus bohara
(Hotaling et al. 2016)
Additional newly discovered species
![Cuc-Phuong-Ferret-badger. Photo: Elke Schwierz](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/d/csm_Sonnendachs_35e01da3b2.jpg)
Melogale cucphuongensis sp. nov. (Nadler et al. 2011)