COQUEREL’S SIFAKA
Learn more about the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur
What Kind?
I chose the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur. The scientific name for the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is the Propithecus Coquereli. The Propithecus Coquereli Lemur usually goes by its common names which are Coquerel's Sidaka and the Crowned Sifaka. The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is a medium size lemur that belongs to the primate family. The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is very different from other lemurs due to their interesting behaviors and looks.
Where?
The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is only found in the Madagascar Island. To be more specific the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur tends to stay on the Northern and Eastern parts of the Betsiboka River. They can also be found on the Southern part of the Ambato-Bobni.
Diet
The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur eats a variety of food. For example during the wet season they eat fruit, leaves, wood, nectar, twigs and more. During the dry season this specific lemur eats dry leaves and insects. The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is not a picky eater, and consumes food from about 100 different types of plants.
Daily Activities
The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur lives primarily in the tress, it's rare when you see them on ground. Also the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is usually active throughout the day, but don't be surprise if you ever find one out and about at night. They are able to do well in their environment due to their keen senses.
Physical Features
The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur has very skillful arms and powerful legs which allows them to be able to vertically leap and climb quickly. They also have a very long body, they are often found sitting upright. They length is about 42-50cm, and weigh anywhere from 8-81lbs. The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur usually has a coloring of mainly white or cream color. Although they're mainly white their face and limbs are dark brown or black. Their tail however if white, and they have a maroon color found on their chest area.
A little bit of History!
Unfortunately the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is in fact endangered. There are now only two protected areas in Madagascar which the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur can be found. Some major threats the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur faces is habitat destruction and hunting. There is an estimate of 200,00 individuals remaining (Mittermeier at al. 2008). The full species status was elevated by Groves in 2001. Although the stays was elevated the species authority happened in 1867.
Position
The Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur is usually found in an upright position.
Body Structure
As you can see in this picture the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur has powerful legs to help them vertically leap.
Diet
During the dry season the Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur usually eats dry leaves.
Types of Lemurs
There is a huge variety of types of lemurs. Evolution of lemurs is due to adaption to their environment over time. It started off with a species and over time the environment started to change and new species started to develop sense they needed to adapt to new environments.
Why in Madagascar?
Theory states that nearly 60 million years ago the island of Madagascar was still attached to the African continent. After the island separated lemurs were the only species of primates in the island. This kind of isolation made it easier for a faster reproduction, and without predators. Lemurs owned the whole habitat to themselves.