Sifakas are a firm highlight of wildlife viewing in Madagascar. They are part (genus) of the family of largest surviving lemurs, Indriidae. The Indri lemur occupies a genus of its own and is the largest of all lemurs. The 9 species of sifaka are the next in scale, of which the Diademed Sifaka is the biggest with a body length of 1 metre weighing up to 6.4kg. 

Sifakas are some of the most attractive of all lemurs. They are characterised by a black hairless face, with the rest of the body covered in long and silky fur. Their colouration is most attractive, varying from white to yellow to dark brown and black. 

Sifakas are found across most of Madagascar's non-highland areas, but only where there is sufficient intact natural habitat. They are all vegetarian, feeding mainly on leaves, fruit and flowers. They are active by day, which makes viewing considerably easier; and stay together in groups of up to 13. 

Three out of four species of Propethicus sifakas are found in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. Of these, the Diademed Sifaka is the most numerous and most widely distributed. It is these very attractive lemurs which provide some of best wildlife viewing on our journeys to the Mangabe and Mantadia reserves. 

Least numerous of the Propethicus sifakas is Perrier's Sifaka (Propithecus perrieri). This all black lemur, weighing up to 6kg, is Critically Endangered. It is the one species of Propethicus which lives in drier deciduous forest in the far north east of Madagascar. Its habitat has been reduced to relatively small and disconnected fragments. 

There are 5 species of Verreaux sifaka, adapted to live in the drier western, southern and far northeastern zones of the country. The Critically Endangered Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi), is a sight to behold in spiny forests of the south and south east. Like all sifakas, it moves in powerful leaps, extending its legs which at rest, fold in against its body. These leaps can be as long as 10 metres, with the animal twisting from a full 180 degrees in the air. What is most incredible with Verreaux's sifakas is that in spiny forest, they leap amongst trees covered in dense thick spines. How they manage to navigate fingers between these during leaps is nothing short of miraculous. 

Something else sifakas are known for is their ability to 'walk' upright on two legs. This is not often observed, but when they do so, they tend to skip and bound,  with arms and fingers outstretched for balance; feet quickly and alternately tapping the ground to spring forward. 

Sifakas give birth to a single offspring in July, following 4 to 5 months gestation. They wean after 6 months and reach adulthood at the age of 2 to 3 years. Life expectancy is believed to be about 20 years.

Sifaka species list

• Verreaux's Sifaka (Propethicus verreauxi) is found in the driest southwestern forests of Madagascar.
• Coquerel's Sifaka (Propethicus coquereli) is found in the dry forests of the north west.
• Decken's Sifaka (Propethicus deckenii) is found in the western dry forests. The Tsingy of Bemaraha is a good place to see these.
• Diademed Sifaka (Propethicus diadema) is found in the northern section of Madgascar's eastern rainforests .
• Milne-Edwards' Sifaka (Propethicus edwarsi) is found in the southern rainforests of Eastern Madagascar
• Silky Sifaka (Propethicus candidus) - similar to Milne-Edwards' Sifaka, this is found around the Marojejy Massif in northeastern Madagascar
• Perrier's Sifaka (Propethicus perrieri) - found in a small area of tropical dry forest on the far north of the country
• Tattersall's Sifaka also known as the Golden-crowned Sifaka (Propethicus tattersalli) - tiny far northern dry forest distribution
• Crowned Sifaka (Propethicus coronatus) - western dry forests