In the absence of a comprehensive fossil record, the origin and early evolu
tion of Malagasy lemurs have been subject to much uncertainty. We report he
re the discovery of a strepsirrhine fossil with strong cheirogaleid lemur a
ffinities, Bugtilemur mathesoni gen. et sp. nov., from early Oligocene depo
sits of the Bugti Hills (Balochistan, Pakistan). Bugtilemur represents the
earliest record of Lemuriformes, which hence appear to. have already divers
ified outside of Madagascar at least 30 million years ago. This fossil clea
rly enhances the critical role of the Indian subcontinent in the early dive
rsification of lemurs and constrains paleobiogeographic models of strepsirr
hine lemur evolution.