Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Indriidae
- Genus
- Propithecus
Habitat
Coquerel's sifaka inhabits dry deciduous forests and spiny bush in northwestern Madagascar. They prefer areas with tall trees for vertical leaping and feeding, typically in regions with seasonal rainfall and mixed terrain of forests and scrublands.
Diet
Coquerel's sifaka primarily eats leaves, flowers, and fruits from trees like tamarind and fig species. They are folivorous, spending much of their day selectively foraging for young leaves and buds, with feeding peaks in the early morning and late afternoon.
Behavior
Coquerel's sifaka lives in small groups of 3-10 individuals, typically led by a dominant female, and they communicate with loud calls and scent marking. They are diurnal and arboreal, moving by vertical clinging and leaping between trees, covering up to 10 meters in a single bound. These lemurs are territorial, defending their home ranges of about 10-20 hectares with vocalizations and physical displays.
Conservation Status
Coquerel's sifaka is classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture. Population trends are decreasing, with major threats including hunting and fragmentation of forest habitats.