Sifaka
A large, tree-dwelling lemur in the genus Propithecus, native to Madagascar and known for upright, sideways leaps on the ground.
Lemur: A strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar and the nearby Comoros. Sifakas are among Madagascar’s largest living lemurs.
Sifaka locomotion: The modes of movement sifakas use in trees and on the ground. Their powerful arboreal leaps contrast with their upright ground-hopping.
Verreaux's sifaka: A sifaka species of western and southern Madagascar, recognized by its pale coat and dark face. Its distinctive sideways ground leaps are among the best-known sifaka behaviors.
Deforestation in Madagascar: The clearing and degradation of Madagascar’s native forests, largely through human land use. Forest destruction removes the canopy and food sources sifakas depend on.
Propithecus: A genus of large, diurnal lemurs native to Madagascar, commonly known as sifakas. This is the genus that contains every sifaka species.
Brachiation: A form of arboreal movement in which an animal swings beneath branches using its arms. Sifakas leap between supports rather than primarily swinging beneath them.
Coquerel's sifaka: A sifaka species from northwestern Madagascar, with contrasting white, chestnut, and dark fur. It illustrates the vivid coat patterns found within the genus.
Slash-and-burn agriculture: A farming method that clears vegetation by cutting and burning it before cultivation. This practice converts sifaka habitat into fields and fallow land.
Strepsirrhini: A primate suborder that includes lemurs, lorises, and galagos. Sifakas belong to this primate lineage, distinct from haplorhines.
Folivory: A diet based mainly on leaves. Leaves are a major part of sifaka diets, though fruit and flowers also matter.