Lemur species is named for Cleese
Most people know him as the Minister for Silly Walks on “Monty Python” or as Q in James Bond films. But John Cleese will also go down in history for another reason: lemurs.
Researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland have named a newly discovered species of lemur -- one of the most primitive and endangered primates in the world -- after the British comedian in honor of his work with the animal.
The avahi cleesei, which weights less than 2 pounds and eats leaves, was discovered in Western Madagascar in 1990 by a team led by anthropologist Urs Thalmann and his colleague Thomas Geissman of Zurich University.
The name is a tribute to Cleese’s promotion of the plight of lemurs in the movie “Fierce Creatures” and the documentary “Operation Lemur With John Cleese,” the university said in a statement. A lemur even appears next to Cleese on his website.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
