General Characteristics

Head to body Length : 42-45 cm ( 19 - 20 inches )

Tail Length :  56-60 cm (25 -27 inches )

Weight : 4 to 6 kg  (8.8 to 13.2 lbs)

Description : 

The color of the sifaka fur is quite variable including white, black, brown, and gray in many patterns. There is no fur on the black face. Propithecus verreauxi is distinguished from other genera by its small ears and long tail. They have short arms with small skin membranes at the base that possibly assist in gliding. These membranes limit arm movement. The thumbs are slightly opposable to the fingers. The back legs are large and powerful. The feet and hands are quite large.

Range - Sections of Southwest Madagascar

Habitat -  Verreaux's sifaka inhabits deciduous and evergreen forests of Madagascar. They are usually found in areas with large trees.

Diet -    They eat all above-ground plant material, during the rainy seasons they eat more fruits and flowers, and in dry seasons they consume mainly dead wood, bark and leaves,

Status - They have declined in the wild.

Reason for the status - Habitat destruction for fuel, farmland, and timber is the main cause for this problem. On a positive note, they have been successfully bred in captivity only.

What type of animal is it -  nocturnal-herbivore-solitary

Gestation : 131-160 days

Longevity : 18 years