Lemur Species · Madagascar (north-west dry forest)
Coquerel's Sifaka
Dancing lemur — bounds sideways on two legs across open ground.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
In brief
Coquerel's Sifaka is the 'dancing lemur' of north-western Madagascar — a medium-sized vertical clinger that bounds sideways on two legs across open ground between forest patches. Its defining trait is spectacular leaping locomotion through dry deciduous forest now reduced to fragments. Critically Endangered and CITES Appendix I listed, it must never be kept as a pet.
Coquerel's Sifaka: At a Glance
| Origin | Madagascar (north-west dry forest) |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium (3.7 kg) |
| Typical weight | 3.7–4.3 kg (8–9.5 lb); long hind limbs power leaps of over 9 metres between trees |
| Lifespan | 15–25 years (varies; mouse lemurs shorter) |
| Coat & markings | Creamy white body fur with chestnut-brown patches on the chest, shoulders and thighs; face is black and hairless. Dense fur protects against thorny spiny forest vegetation. Powerful legs and short arms suit vertical clinging and bipedal hopping on the ground — the 'dance' for which sifakas are famous. |
| Temperament | Diurnal, leaping, social |
| Conservation note | Wild conservation only — Coquerel's sifakas are CITES Appendix I listed and require continuous dry forest canopy and social groups of up to a dozen individuals. They cannot be kept in domestic settings. Support Ankarafantsika National Park and the Antrema biocultural reserve, and accredited zoos with managed Propithecus breeding programmes. |
History & Origins
Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) inhabits dry deciduous forest in north-western Madagascar — notably Ankarafantsika National Park and the Antrema forest near the coast. Groups of six to ten individuals vertical-cling-leap through the canopy, descending to the ground to bound bipedally between trees too far apart to leap. They eat leaves, fruit, flowers and bark, shifting diet with the dry season. Slash-and-burn agriculture (tavy), charcoal production and logging have reduced north-western dry forest to isolated patches. Coquerel's sifaka cannot cross open farmland safely — ground crossing exposes them to dogs, humans and starvation between fragments. The species is Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and CITES Appendix I listed. An international managed breeding programme in accredited zoos maintains an insurance population, but reintroduction depends on forest restoration.
Coquerel's Sifaka Fun Facts
- Coquerel's sifakas 'dance' — hopping sideways on two legs with arms raised when crossing open ground.
- They can leap over 9 metres horizontally between tree trunks in a single bound.
- Sifakas are named after a call sounding like 'shif-auk' — their alarm vocalisation.
- Groups defend core territories through scent-marking and vocal displays at dawn.
Coquerel's Sifaka Common Health Issues
Conditions seen more often in this breed, and how owners and vets help manage them. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — always speak to your vet.
Habitat loss (wild)
Dry deciduous forest clearance for maize, cassava and charcoal isolates sifaka groups in fragments too small for long-term survival.
Care: Fund tavy alternatives and community reforestation in north-western Madagascar. Protected area expansion at Ankarafantsika is critical.
Hunting
Sifakas are hunted for bushmeat in some regions despite legal protection, particularly where forest income alternatives are scarce.
Care: Community conservation agreements linking forest protection to livelihood support reduce hunting pressure. Patrols in protected areas deter poaching.
Forest fragmentation
Ground crossing between isolated tree patches exposes sifakas to predation by feral dogs and human disturbance — a leading cause of mortality.
Care: Create forest corridors connecting fragments. Reforestation with native dry forest species reduces dangerous open-ground travel.
Lemurs belong in Madagascar's forests
Every lemur species is CITES Appendix I and most are Endangered or Critically Endangered. Habitat protection — not the pet trade — is their only path to survival.
