Verreaux's Sifaka

## About

A pair of Verreaux's sifaka jumping in the Madagascan desert.

The Verreaux's sifaka ***(Propithhecus verreauxi)*** (pronounced SUH-FAHK) is a species of lemur part of Indriidae family, and is named after French biologist Jules Verreaux (1807-1873), who discovered the sifaka. The Verreaux's sifaka is one of the larger lemur species, growing to 45cm (18in) in length with their tail measuring to about the same length, Verreaux's sifaka also typically weighs 3.4-3.6kg (7.5-7.9lbs). Members of the Indriidae family typically resemble each other, with the Verreaux's sifaka in particular, possessing a whiter fur coat, with a reddish brown patch of fur on the top of their face. Verreaux's sifakas have black skin on their palms, face and areas between their legs and arms. Though male and female sifakas are almost identical in appearance, males differ slightly having a gland on their throat (discussed in Behaviour). Often this throat gland is a way to group males into different categories being, the 'clean-chested' males and 'dirty-chested' males. The differentiation between the two will be discussed more in the behaviour section of this article. Verreaux's sifakas have characteristically large yellow eyes, which obviously grants them exceptional eyesight.

## Diet

Verreaux's sifaka are adaptable animals that feed on different sources depending on the season and the resources available at the time. During the dry season for example, sifakas will feed less often, eating mostly leaves and bark however, during the wet season when food is more plentiful, they will typically eat moisture dependent food sources such as fruits and cactus flowers. Verreaux's sifakas have adapted to climbing these cacti species by evolving thick pads on their hands and feet.

## Conservation Status

Due to the continued destruction and fragmentation of the Verreaux's sifaka's, the species is currently classed as critically endangered by the IUCN. The logging and agricultural industries in Madagascar threaten not just the survivability of the Verreaux's sifaka, but also other Malagasy lemurs. Madagascan forests are often cut down simply to be used for charcoal supplies and their use as firewood however, the trees are also used to construct houses. Ultimately, the deforestation rate in Madagascar has drastically increased, with 1-2 percent of all of Madagascar's forests being destroyed annually. This increase in deforestation is also caused by the growing slash-and-burning agricultural industry, which specialises in the burning of forests. After the burning, agriculture is then established in the savannas left over from the charred forests. Following the introduction of prickly pear cactuses ***(Opuntia)*** to Madagascar in the 1700s, the Southern Madagascan ecosystem was greatly altered, as prickly pear cactuses are extremely invasive.

## Range and Population

Verreaux's sifaka inhabits the island of Madagascar, in particular, the west and southwestern regions of the island. Southwestern Madagascar is interestingly much drier than other regions, consisting of tropical lowlands, shrublands and deserts. the Verreaux's sifaka is adapted to living in these locations, even having tougher skin on their palms and feet to protect from thorny brush. Due to these drier locations with more sparse habitable trees Verreaux's sifaka as well the entire Indriidae family, has adapted to hopping or 'pogoing' across distances of 9m (30ft) in order to clear patches of thorny brush, that typically deters other species. Despite the Verreaux's sifaka's masterful adaptations to Madagascar, they are currently in a declining state, and their exact population is not known.

## Behaviour

Verreaux's sifakas operate under a matriarchy, with around 5-7 females and 2-3 males and multiple juveniles in a single troop. This is common for lemurs, with almost every Malagasy lemur species practicing matriarchy. Verreaux's sifakas are a social species, and enjoy each others company, individuals will often groom each other as an act of trust, grooming most prolifically when in the same region as another troop, in order to demonstrate allegiance. Though both sexes are very similar to one another, male Verreaux's sifakas are particularly interesting, displaying different levels of hierarchy among each other. Male sifakas have a scent gland located on their chest which allows them to mark their territory with their scent. The secretions from this gland often stain the white hair on the sifaka's chest, with dirtier-chested males having a larger amount of testosterone than cleaner-chested males. For this reason, among sifakas dirty-chested males are seen as more dominant over clean-chested males. Despite the dominance of the dirty-chested sifakas, clean-chested males also get the right to breed as well however, they catch the attention of females in a much different way. According to the New England Primate Conservancy, willing clean-chested males will attempt to gain the trust of a female through grooming, which may eventually lead to active breeding. Data shows that the most prolific breeders are a mixture between the dirt-chested scent marking males and the clean-chested groomer males. Verreaux's sifakas practice polygamy, meaning they do not mate for life. After the January-March breeding season, mother sifakas will have a gestation period of 4-5 months, giving birth in the dry season. This is extremely unfortunate timing, as the mother will not only have to sustain herself, but also her baby, during the time of the year where food is at its most sparse. Interestingly, mother sifakas will carry the baby on their bodies, at first on their chests, transitioning to their backs. The mothers will continue this until the baby becomes independent, being allowed to venture on its own with the mother's supervision at around 6 months old. Verreaux's sifakas are a very loud species, constantly communicating to members of their group through a variety of sounds that each have separate meanings. 'Sifaka' is actually a Malagasy word in reference to the call that sifakas emit when threatened, making the 'SUH-FAHK' noise in order to warn their troop members of on coming danger. Sifakas will use this sound often, as they are often preyed upon by fossa ***(Cryptoprocta ferox)***, and alerting their troop is essential in order to escape. It is also possible that the sifaka call is made in reference to the presence of a human in the troop's territory.

### Relationship with Humans

As previously discussed, Verreaux's sifakas identify humans as threats, warning other troop members with their characteristic sifaka call. Sifakas are also extremely territorial and do not accept intruders in their territory including humans. Generally however, a sifaka will not attack unless provoked or threatened.

## In Captivity

Verreaux's sifakas are not a popular zoo species, and currently, no American or even Australian zoos have the sifakas. The Verreaux's sifaka is instead only found in European zoos, from the Apenhuel Primate Park in the Netherlands to the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in the United Kingdom. Verreaux's sifaka can also be found in two French zoos.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18354/115572044
* Verreaux's Sifaka | New England Primate Conservancy - https://neprimateconservancy.org/verreauxs-sifaka/
* Traditions that Threaten | PBS - https://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/paradise.htm
* Sifaka Lemurs; Facts, Locomotion and Habitat | Study.com - https://study.com/academy/lesson/sifaka-lemurs-facts-locomotion-habitat.html
* Verreaux's Sifaka | ZOOINSTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/verreauxs-sifaka-2906/
* Jules Verreaux | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules\_Verreaux