Crowned sifaka

Description

The crowned sifaka (Propithecus coronatus) is a sifaka endemic to western Madagascar.It is of comparable size to the Golden-crowned sifaka and up to a meter in length,of which 47-57 centimeters are tail.The species is an arboreal vertical climber and leaper whose diet consists of leaves,fruits and flowers.It is threatened by habitat destruction and currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN.The Crowned sifaka is a medium-sized sifaka who has a total length of 87 to 102 centimeters,of which 47-57 centimeters are tail,and 39.5 - 45.5 cm are the head and body.Males weigh 3.5-4.5 kg and 3.5-5.0 kg for females.It is a sifaka of comparable size to the Golden-crowned sifaka,Von der Decken's sifaka and Verreaux's sifaka.The crowned sifaka is characterized by a creamy white body with tinges of golden brown around the shoulder region,upper chest and back with a dark chocolate or black head with white ear tufts.Their dark grey face is hairless and they have a white tail.Occasionally a pale patch across the bridge of the nose may be present.Crown sifaka color variations occur more commonly in the lower regions of the sifakas range between the Mahavavy and Manombolo rivers.Melanistic forms have been documented,with most occurrences observed where the southern limit of its range overlaps with that of P.deckenii.