Details
Propithecus coquereli
A sifaka from northwestern Madagascar, with a white body, brown chest and arms, and a famous sideways hopping gait on the ground.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Coquerel's sifakas inhabit dry deciduous forest, riparian forest, and secondary forest. Canopy continuity and seasonal plant foods are important.
They have a white body, dark brown chest and forelimbs, and a black face. Long hindlimbs and tail support leaping and balance.
They are diurnal and move through trees in social groups. On the ground, they hop sideways on the hind legs.
They eat leaves, buds, flowers, fruit, and bark. Diet shifts with dry and rainy seasons as plant parts change.
Groups are often female-dominant. Females give birth to single infants that shift from clinging to the belly to riding on the back.
Forest loss and hunting place heavy pressure on the species, making local forest protection and restoration central to conservation.
