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| 85 | | 6 | Early biologists coined the term as the calls of some species (probably from the family Lemuridae) were reminiscent of the cries of Roman lemures, or "spirits of the dead".[CR] Subsequently, this has become widely accepted as an encompassing vernacular for all Madagascar's primates.[CR] The earliest primates perhaps evolved around 50 millions years ago and may have been similar in a number of ways to some present-day small nocturnal lemurs.[CR] Later more advanced forms evolved that were better able to exploit their environment.[CR] This lineage eventually became monkeys and apes, and was able to outcompete and oust the more primitive forms.[CR] Critically, some of the early lemur-like primates became isolated on Madagascar prior to this.[CR] Their cousins elsewhere were driven to extinction by the new arrivals, but on Madagascar they found refuge.
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