Diademed Sifaka
The eastern species of sifaka, Propithecus diadema, has four distinctly colored subspecies, each with a distinct range. In addition to the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema diadema) the other three subspecies include Milne-Edward's sifaka (Propithecus diadema edwardsi), the Silky sifaka (Propithecus diadema candidus), and Perrier's sifaka (Propithecus diadema perrieri). Together with the Indri (Indri indri), with which it is sympatric, Propithecus diadema diadema is the largest of the living lemurs. With its thick, long and spectacularly colored fur (orange, black and white), this sifaka is thought by many to be the most beautiful of the lemurs.
Like the other two species of sifaka, the golden-crowned sifaka and Verreaux's sifaka, the diademed sifaka is a vertical clinger and leaper, and moves through the forest by jumping from one vertical tree trunk to another, propelling itself with its long powerful legs.
Feeding
The diademed sifaka diet consists primarily of leaves, flowers and fruits, the proportion of each varying with the season. Studies of this sifaka have reported that it may feed on over 25 different plant species daily. Generally, the diademed sifaka will forage in the upper part of the canopy, but the animals occasionally descend to the ground to feed on fallen fruit and, when the weather is warm and sunny, to engage in bouts of wrestling and other forms of play behavior. Although the diademed sifaka shares its range with the large leaf-eating Indri, there is very little overlap between the plant species fed on by these two species, reducing competition for food between them to a minimum.
Fact Sheet
Order: Primates; Suborder: Prosimii
Family: Indriidae; Genus: Propithecus
Species: diadema; Subspecies : diadema
Related Species
The Sifaka of Madagascar are distinguished from other lemurs by their mode of locomotion: these animals maintain a distinctly vertical posture and leap through the trees using just the strength of their back legs. They are all relatively large bodied, with short faces and extremely long legs which enable some species to leap as far as 30 feet in one bound. There are three recognized species of sifaka as well as three subspecies of P.verreauxi and P. diadema. The Duke Lemur Center houses representatives of each of the three species: the Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli -- a subspecies of Propithecus verreauxi), the golden-crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli), and the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema diadema -- a subspecies of Propithecus diadema).
Key Facts
Adult Size : 11 - 13.2 pounds
Social life : Sociable, groups of 2 - 5 animals
Habitat : north-central eastern rainforest
Diet : principally leaves, flowers and fruit
Lifespan : presumed to be 25 - 30 years
Sexual maturity : presumed to be 2 - 3 years
Mating : unknown in the wild
Gestation : unknown
Number of young : presumed to be one per year
DLC Naming theme : Shakespearean characters (Romeo)
Malagasy names : Ankomba Malandy, Simpona
Interesting Facts
- The DLC houses the only Diademed sifaka in captivity. He is a 6 year old male named Romeo.
- Diademed sifaka have never reproduced in captivity.
- Diademed sifaka are among the largest living lemurs.
Reproduction
A female will give birth to a single offspring which initially will cling to her belly, but which gradually transfers to her back. At the age of two to three months, the infants may begin to venture off on short independent forays away from the mother. Infants off by themselves as well as independent juveniles might fall prey to a ground predator, the fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) or to large raptors such as the Madagascar Harrier Hawk (Polyboroides radiatus). Like many lemurs, the diademed sifaka has different vocalizations for ground and aerial predators.
Social Behavior
The diademed sifaka is active during the day, like all the sifakas, but unlike crepuscular Eulemur species, these sifakas will ascend into a sleep tree for the night as early as a full hour before sunset. They live in multi-male/multi-female groups numbering from four to eight animals. Females live in one group their entire lives, while males migrate between groups, especially during the breeding season. Males might be quite fluid in their group affiliation. Groups of diademed sifaka occupy home ranges of about 35 hectares in size.
Habitat/Conservation
P. diadema diadema is restricted to the rainforests of eastern and northeastern Madagascar. Its precise range is unknown, but it probably has the highest numbers and greatest range of any of the four subspecies of diademed sifaka. It is believed to range from the Mangoro River in the South to the Antainambalana River in the north. This sifaka is protected in six reserves in eastern Madagascar, but nowhere is it found in large numbers. Due to its low density, threats from slash and burn agriculture and the fact that it is hunted for food in most of its range, this species is considered to be highly endangered.