Newly discovered primate in Myanmar ‘already facing extinction’

Context

• In a rare find, scientists have identified a new species of primate, a lithe tree-dweller living in the forests of central Myanmar with a mask-like face framed by a shock of unruly grey hair.

Key-highlights of the finings

• The primate is named as
• It is leaf-eating species of primate.
• It is the lithe monkey with chalk-white rings around its eyes.
• As only 200 to 250 left in the wild, it is said to be classified as “critically endangered”.

What are the threats?

• It is threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

What is a primate?

• A primate is a eutherian mammal constituting the taxonomic order Primates.
• Primate is a group of mammals that includes the lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
• Primates are divided into two suborders.

1. 1. Strepsirrhines which includes lemurs and lorisids.
   2. The haplorhines, or "dry-nosed" primates, includes the tarsier, apes and langurs.

When an animal is said to be Critically Endangered?

• A species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Critically Endangered species is believed to have undergone a decline well exceeding 80% over the past three generation. 
• The total population is estimated at less than 300 individuals across the range