 M. pithecoides , described in 1905 , was the first species to be formally named . Its specific name , pithecoides , derives from the Greek word pithekos , meaning " monkey " or " ape " , and the Greek suffix -oides , meaning " like " or " form " , and reflects Standing 's impression that the animal resembled monkeys in form . It was a small to medium @-@ sized lemur , weighing approximately 10 kg ( 22 lb ) and having an intermembral index ( ratio of limb proportions ) of 99 . Its skull was similar to that of M. globiceps , but had a broader snout and was more robust , particularly in its sagittal and nuchal crests ( ridges on the skull for muscle attachments ) and massive zygomatic arches ( cheekbones ) . Its skull length averaged 98 mm ( 3 @.@ 9 in ) , ranging from 94 @.@ 0 to 103 @.@ 1 mm ( 3 @.@ 70 to 4 @.@ 06 in ) . It was predominantly folivorous ( leaf @-@ eating ) , but also consumed some fruit and ( rarely ) seeds . It was moderately abundant on the high , central plateau of Madagascar . It shared its range with the larger sloth lemurs , Palaeopropithecus maximus and Archaeoindris fontoynontii . One sample of its subfossil remains has been radiocarbon dated , yielding a date of 570 – 679 CE . 
