| Propithecus | |
|---|---|
 Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema) | |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Indriidae |
| Genus | Propithecus |
Propithecus or sifakas, is a genus of lemurs from the family Indriidae within the order Primates. Their name of the family is an onomatopoeia of their characteristic "shi-fak" alarm call. Like all lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar. All species of sifakas are threatened, ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered.
Sifakas are medium sized indrids with a head and body length of 40 to 55 centimetres (16 to 22 in) and a weight of 3 to 6 kilograms (6.6 to 13.2 lb). Their tail is just as long as their body, which differentiates them from the Indri. Their fur is long and silky, with coloration varying by species from yellowish-white to black brown. The round, hairless face is always black. As with all lemurs, the sifaka has special adaptations for grooming, including a toilet-claw on its second toe and a toothcomb.
Sifakas move by vertical clinging and leaping, meaning they maintain an upright position leaping from tree trunk to tree trunk and moving along branches. They are skillful climbers and powerful jumpers, able to make leaps of up to 10 m (32.8 ft) from one tree to the next. On the ground they move like all indrids with bipedal sideways hopping movements of the hind legs, holding their forelimbs up for balance. Sifakas are diurnal and arboreal.
Species[]
Propithecus diadema group Diademed Sifaka (Bennett, 1832) (Propithecus diadema) Milne-Edwards' Sifaka (A. Grandidier, 1871) (Propithecus edwardsi) Silky Sifaka (A. Grandidier, 1871) (Propithecus candidus) Perrier's Sifaka (Lavauden, 1931) (Propithecus perrieri) Propithecus verreauxi group Coquerel's Sifaka (A. Grandidier, 1867) (Propithecus coquereli) Verreaux's Sifaka (A. Grandidier, 1867) (Propithecus verreauxi) Von der Decken's Sifaka (Peters, 1870) (Propithecus deckenii) Crowned Sifaka (Propithecus coronatus) Golden-crowned Sifaka (Simons, 1988) (Propithecus tattersalli)