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Coquerels sifaka
Propithecus coquereli
| Size |
Coquerel's sifakas have an average body length of about 17 inches with a tail length of about 23 inches. |
| Weight |
Coquerel's sifakas typically weigh eight or nine pounds.
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| Conservation Status |
On the 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Coquerel's sifaka is listed as Endangered. |
| Diet |
In the wild, during the wet season, they generally eat young leaves, flowers, dead wood, bark, and fruit; during the dry season; buds and mature leaves. Overall, they're known to consume over 98 different species of plants.
At the Zoo, sifakas are fed nuts, winged sumac (which is a plant that is collected during the summer and kept frozen until needed) assorted veggies and chickpeas.
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| Geographic Range |
Coquerel's sifakas are found solely in the northwest corner of Madagascar, a large island off the east coast of Madagascar.
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| Where to find me in the Zoo |
PECO Primate Reserve |
Note: Description below should include Longevity, Behavior, and Reproduction information
The Philadelphia Zoo is one of only a handful of places in the world where you can see this highly endangered primate from Madagascar, made famous by the PBS television series Zoboomafoo, featuring the Kratt brothers and their Coquerel's sifaka, (cock-er-al's she-fak) mascot.
Sifaka differ from other lemurs in the way they move, using a form of locomotion called vertical clinging and leaping. They leap in an upright position from one vertical branch or trunk to another, using their powerful back legs to propel them over twenty feet in one jump. When they move on the ground, they skip or bound on their hind legs.
Coquerel's sifaka are mostly white to off-white, with maroon patches on the chest and the fronts of their thighs and arms. The skin on the face and ears is bare and black. Males and females have the same coloration and patterning, and are about the same size.
Coquerel's sifaka live in dry lowland forest, mostly mixed deciduous forests (with some trees that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season).
Sifakas are known for their characteristic "shih-fak" alarm call, for which they are named.
Coquerels' sifaka have been known to live more than twenty years in zoos. Lifespan in the wild is not well known.
Like most lemurs, Coquerel's sifaka have a particular breeding season. In the wild, in the southern hemisphere, most babies are born in June and July, during the southern winter. In zoos in the U.S., in the northern hemispehere, the breeding sesaon is reversed, and most babies are born from December to March, during the northern winter. The gestation period is about 160 days.
Baby sifaka are born fully furred, with their eyes open. Only one infant is born at a time. The infant clings to its mother's belly for the first four weeks, shifting only to nurse, and then begins to ride on her back. After five to six months of age, the youngster is weaned.
Coquerel's sifakas are social, living in small groups of two to eight individuals. Females are dominant to males, having preferential access to food. Sifakas are diurnal, and may be active from sunrise to sunset.
Eudoxia: Female, born February 11, 2000 at Duke University Primate Center. She arrived at the
Zoo on March 25, 2003.
Zeno: Male, born February 2, 2000 at Duke University Primate Center. He arrived at the Zoo on
November 9, 2005.
Loka: Male, born February 8, 2008.
Enrichment
Adoption Information
Featured Foster Parent
The Coquerel's sifaka is listed as "vulnerable to extinction". They've predicted a 50 percent decrease in population over the next three generations of the species due to habitat loss.
The primary threat to the conservation of this species is habitat destruction due to burning for grassland maintenance and deforestation for charcoal.
Zoo Research
Fun Facts
The Malagasy name "sifaka" comes from the distinct call heard as the animal travels through the trees.
There are currently three species and nine sub-species of sifakas.
Conservation
Introductions
Animal Lingo
Want More?
Sources:
1) Philadelphia Zoo staff;
2) Mittermeier, Russell, et al. (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar. 2nd ed.. Colombia: Conservation International;
3) Haring, David (2004). International Propithecus (Sifaka) Studbook, 2nd edition. Durham, NC: Duke University Primate Center;
4) IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 January 2008.
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