Milne-Edwards' sifaka
| Milne-Edwards' sifaka | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
| Family: | Indriidae |
| Genus: | Propithecus |
| Species: | P. edwardsi |
| Binomial name | |
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Propithecus edwardsi A. Grandidier, 1871 |
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| Distribution of P. edwardsi | |
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Milne-Edwards' sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi), or Milne-Edwards' simpona, is a large arboreal, diurnal lemur endemic to the eastern coastal rainforest of Madagascar. Milne-Edwards' sifaka is characterized by a black body with a light-colored "saddle" on the lower part of its back. It is closely related to the diademed sifaka, and was until recently considered a subspecies of it. Like all sifakas, it is a primate in the family Indriidae.
Milne-Edwards' sifaka is categorized as endangered by the IUCN. As of 2008 there were estimated to be approximately 28600 individuals left with only about 3500 of those remaining in protected areas. It remains threatened by habitat loss, hunting and may be sensitive to a changing climate.
Milne-Edwards' sifaka is the second largest species in Propithecus, and one of the larger diurnal lemur species overall. The average weight of a male Milne-Edwards' sifaka is 5.90 kg (13.0 lb) and for females it is 6.30 kg (13.9 lb). The body length excluding the tail is 47.6 cm (18.7 in) for males and females measure 47.7 cm (18.8 in). The tail is slightly shorter than the body, averaging 455 mm (17.9 in) in length or about 94% of the total head and body length.
The Milne-Edwards' sifaka has a typical Propithecus body shape with orange-red eyes and a short, black, bare face ringed by a puffy spray of dark brown to black fur. The majority of its coat is dark brown or black long silky fur, but on the center of the sifaka's back and flanks is a brown to cream colored saddle shaped area which is divided in half by a line of dark fur along the spine. The shape and coloration of the saddle patch vary by individual. The Milne-Edwards' sifaka exhibit neither sexual dimorphism nor sexual dichromatism.
As with all lemurs, the Milne-Edwards' sifaka has special adaptations for grooming, including a toilet-claw on its second toe, and a toothcomb.
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