Sifaka
| More Animal Resources Types of Animals Types of Monkeys |
Sifaka (Propithecus), along with Indri and woolly lemurs, constitute the Indriidae family.
Recent Propithecus research has led to the elevation of subspecies to the species level, and in early 2010, the IUCN listed nine separate species, seven of which are also listed as either endangered or critically endangered.
The common name Sifaka refers to the sound they make when alerting the group to the near presence of predators.
Anyone of the millions of people familiar with the full length feature cartoon, Madagascar, might be inclined to assume that all lemur species dance, and generally "like to move it, move it".
In fact, the Sifaka's long legs and the short arms, which it uses to propel itself quickly from tree to tree, makes it the true dancing lemur genus, especially on the ground.
Like many of the lemurs, Sifakas are herbivores, with a diet consisting of local plants, fruits, and flowers.
© 2010 Patricia A. Michaels.