View source for Sifaka

{{short description|Genus of lemur}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| taxon = Propithecus
| authority = [[Edward Turner Bennett|Bennett]], 1832<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=120–121}}</ref>
| name = Sifakas
| image = Propithecus_coquereli_02.jpg
| image_caption = [[Coquerel's sifaka]] (''P.&nbsp;coquereli'')
| status = CITES_A1
| status_system = CITES
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://checklist.cites.org/#/en/search/scientific_name=Propithecus | title = Checklist of CITES Species | website = CITES | publisher = UNEP-WCMC | access-date = 18 March 2015}}</ref>
| type_species = ''[[Diademed sifaka|Propithecus diadema]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Edward Turner Bennett|Bennett]], 1832
| diversity = 9 species
| diversity_link = 
| synonyms =
*''Macromerus'' <small>A. Smith, 1833</small>
| range_map = Propithecus range map.svg
| range_map_caption = Combined distribution of ''Propithecus''
}}

A '''sifaka'''  ({{IPAc-en|s|ɪ|ˈ|f|ɑː|k|ə}}; {{IPA|mg|ˈsifakə̥|-|Mg-sifaka.ogg}}) is a [[lemur]] of the [[genus]] '''''Propithecus''''' from the family [[Indriidae]] within the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Primate]]s. The common name is an [[onomatopoeia]] of their characteristic "shi-fak" alarm call.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norscia |first1=Ivan |last2=Palagi |first2=Elisabetta |date=2016 |title=The Missing Lemur Link: An Ancestral Step in the Evolution of Human Behaviour |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dHBNDAAAQBAJ&q=%22shi-fak%22+alarm+call.&pg=PA39 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=39 |isbn=978-1-107-01608-8}}</ref> Like all lemurs, they are found only on the island of [[Madagascar]]. All species of sifakas are [[Threatened species|threatened]], ranging from [[Endangered species|endangered]] to [[critically endangered]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202007/almost-a-third-lemurs-and-north-atlantic-right-whale-now-critically-endangered-iucn-red-list |title= Almost a third of lemurs and North Atlantic Right Whale now Critically Endangered - IUCN Red List |date= 9 July 2020 |publisher=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |access-date=2021-07-07}}</ref>

== Anatomy and physiology ==
Sifakas are medium-sized indriids with a head and body length of {{convert|40|to|55|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a weight of {{convert|3|to|6|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. 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 blackish-brown. Their round, hairless face is always black.  As with all lemurs, the sifaka has special adaptations for [[personal grooming|grooming]], including a [[toilet-claw]] on its second toe and a [[toothcomb]].<ref name="Schwitzer_etal2013">{{cite book | first1 = C | last1 = Schwitzer | first2 = R. A. | last2 = Mittermeier | first3 = E. E. | last3 = Louis Jr. | first4 = M. C. | last4 = Richardson | chapter = Family Indriidae: woolly lemurs, sifakas and indri) | editor1-last = Mittermeier | editor1-first = Russell A. | editor1-link = Russell A. Mittermeier | editor2-first = Anthony B. | editor2-last = Rylands | editor3-first = Don E. | editor3-last = Wilson  | editor3-link = Don E. Wilson | title = Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 3. Primates | publisher = Lynx Edicions | location = Barcelona | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-84-96553-89-7}}</ref>

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 up to {{convert|10|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} from one tree to the next. On the ground, they move like all indrids, with bipedal, sideways leaping movements of the hind legs, holding their fore limbs up for balance.<ref name="DULC_coquerel">{{cite web|url=http://lemur.duke.edu/category/diurnal-lemurs/coquerels-sifaka/|title=Coquerel's Sifaka|publisher=Duke University Lemur Center|access-date=2009-06-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923184429/http://lemur.duke.edu/category/diurnal-lemurs/coquerels-sifaka/|archive-date=2013-09-23}}</ref> Sifakas are [[Diurnal animal|diurnal]] and [[arboreal]]. <ref>{{cite web |title=Coquerel's Sifaka |url=https://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/lemursmonkeysapes/coquerelssifaka |website=St. Louis Zoo |access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref>

Sifakas are [[herbivore]]s, eating leaves, flowers, and fruits. When not searching for food, they spend a good part of the day sunbathing, stretched on the branches. Sifakas live in larger groups than the other indrids (up to 13 animals). They have a firm territory, which they mark with scent glands. Edges of different sifaka territories can overlap.  Though they defend their territory from invasion by others of their species, they may peacefully co-exist with other lemur species such as the [[red-bellied lemur]] and the [[common brown lemur]]. Successful invasions are known to result in death of male members, group takeover, and [[infanticide]].<ref name=Brockman2009>{{cite journal|doi=10.1098/rspb.2008.1912|title=Birth season glucocorticoids are related to the presence of infants in sifaka (''Propithecus verreauxi'')|year=2009|last1=Brockman|first1=D. K.|last2=Cobden|first2=A. K.|last3=Whitten|first3=P. L.|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume=276|issue=1663|pages=1855–63|pmid=19324777|pmc=2674497}}</ref>

[[Image:Sifaka Skeleton.jpg|thumb|left|Sifaka [[skeleton]]]]
Predators of the sifaka include the [[Fossa (animal)|fossa]], a puma-like mammal native to Madagascar, and aerial hunters such as hawks.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Descriptions and articles about the Coquerel's Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) - Encyclopedia of Life|url = http://eol.org/pages/2925752/details|website = Encyclopedia of Life|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref> The sifaka usually avoids these attacks with its agile acrobatics through the trees high above the ground. However, they have been known to attack by biting and scratching and have even been witnessed fighting off a [[Madagascar ground boa]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Bring it on: Sifaka lemurs take down a three-metre boa in Madagascar {{!}} predator-vs-prey {{!}} Earth Touch News|url = http://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/predator-vs-prey/bring-it-on-sifaka-lemurs-take-down-a-three-metre-boa-in-madagascar|access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref>

A four- to five-month gestation period ends with the birth of a single offspring in July. The young holds fast to the mother's belly when small, but then later is carried on her back. Young are weaned after about six months and reach full maturity at the age of two to three years. The life expectancy of the sifakas is up to 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neprimateconservancy.org/coquerels-sifaka.html|title=Coquere's Sifaka|website=New England Primate Conservancy|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04|archive-date=2020-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204143148/https://www.neprimateconservancy.org/coquerels-sifaka.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Threats ==
Conservative estimates show that the utilization of fire for slash and burn cultivation, cattle raising, logging, and mining activities has contributed to the loss of 52% of the forested land since the 1950s, impacting the survival of sifakas. For instance, Perrier's sifaka relies solely on vast forest cover, so little to no institutions are addressing these threats or the species' conservation status.<ref name="Salmona">{{cite journal |author1=Salmona, J.|author2=Teixeira, H.|author3=Rasolondraibe, E.|author4=Aleixo-Pais, I.|author5=Kun-Rodrigues, C.|author6=Rakotonanahary, A. N.|author7=Jan, F.|author8=Rabarivola, C. J.|author9=Zaonarivelo, J. R.|author10=Andriaholinirina, N. V.|author11=Chikhi, L. |title=Genetic Diversity, Population Size, and Conservation of the Critically Endangered Perrier's Sifaka (Propithecus perrieri) |year=2015 |pages=1132–1153 |doi=10.1007/s10764-015-9881-x |volume=36 |journal=International Journal of Primatology|issue=6 |s2cid=17919181 }}</ref>

<div style="padding:5px; margin:10px; align:left; width:525px;"> [[Image:Genus Propithecus Feet.jpg|525px]]</div>

[[File:Propithecus bipedal gallop.svg|thumb|upright=1.75|left|Sifakas hop side-to-side when moving on the ground.]]
{{-}}

==Classification==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
 | align = right
 | header = ''Propithecus'' distribution

 | image1 = Propithecus (verreauxi group) range map.svg
 | width1 = 250
 | caption1 = Range of the ''verreauxi'' group:
'''{{color|#e41a1c|red}}''' = ''P. verreauxi'', '''{{color|#4daf4a|green}}''' = ''P. coquereli'',{{-}}
'''{{color|#984ea3|purple}}''' = ''P. deckenii'', '''{{color|#ff7f00|orange}}''' = ''P. coronatus'',{{-}}
'''{{color|#377eb8|blue}}''' = ''P. tattersalli''

 | image2 = Propithecus (diadema group) range map.svg
 | width2 = 250
 | caption2  = Range of the ''diadema'' group:
'''{{color|#e41a1c|red}}''' = ''P. perrieri'', '''{{color|#4daf4a|green}}''' = ''P. candidus'',{{-}}
'''{{color|#984ea3|purple}}''' = ''P. diadema'', '''{{color|#ff7f00|orange}}''' = ''P. edwardsi''
}}

* '''Family [[Indriidae]]'''
** Genus ''[[Indri]]''
** Genus ''[[Woolly lemur|Avahi]]''
** '''Genus ''Propithecus'''''<ref name="2007Groves">{{cite journal | last1 = Groves | first1 = C.P. | last2 = Helgen | first2 = K.M. | title = Craniodental characters in the taxonomy of ''Propithecus'' | journal = International Journal of Primatology | year = 2007 | volume = 28 | pages = 1363–1383 | doi = 10.1007/s10764-007-9226-5 | url = http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/8317/1/vz_Groves_and_Helgen_2007_International_Journal_of_Primatology_Propithecus.pdf | issue = 6 | s2cid = 22899861 | hdl = 1885/35492 | hdl-access = free | access-date = 2010-05-31 | archive-date = 2012-02-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120227010720/http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/8317/1/vz_Groves_and_Helgen_2007_International_Journal_of_Primatology_Propithecus.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref>
*** ''P. diadema'' group
**** [[Diademed sifaka]], ''P. diadema''
**** [[Milne-Edwards's sifaka]], ''P. edwardsi''
**** [[Silky sifaka]], ''P. candidus''
**** [[Perrier's sifaka]], ''P. perrieri''
*** ''P. verreauxi'' group
**** [[Coquerel's sifaka]], ''P. coquereli''
**** [[Verreaux's sifaka]], ''P. verreauxi''
**** [[Von der Decken's sifaka]], ''P. deckenii''
**** [[Crowned sifaka]], ''P.  coronatus''
**** [[Golden-crowned sifaka]], ''P. tattersalli''

<gallery>
Image:Pcoquereli AGrandidier.jpg | ''P. coquereli''
Image:Pdiadema AGrandidier.jpg | ''P. diadema''
Image:Pd candidus AGrandidier.jpg | ''P. candidus''
Image:P edwardsi AGrandidier.jpg | ''P. edwardsi''
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090304202235/http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/links/propithecus Primate Info Net ''Propithecus'' Factsheets]
*[http://www.nyas.org/snc/podcastdetail.asp?id=1845 New York Academy of Sciences Podcast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412182641/http://www.nyas.org/snc/podcastdetail.asp?id=1845 |date=2016-04-12 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100207165328/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/mammals/sifaka/ National Geographic's Sifaka page]

{{Indriidae nav}}
{{Strepsirrhini|L.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q673365}}

[[Category:Sifakas]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Edward Turner Bennett]]