Sifaka

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Sifaka

Sifakas ("sifaka" pronounced as shif-ahk) are a genus

Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
(Propithecus) from the primate

Primate

A primate is a member of the biological order Primates , the group that contains lemurs, the Aye-aye, Lorisidaes, galagos, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes, with the last category including humans....
family Indriidae

Indriidae

The Indridae are a family of strepsirrhine primates. They are medium to large sized lemurs with only four teeth in the toothcomb instead of the usual six....
. Like all lemur

Lemur

Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a group of primates known as prosimians. The term "lemur" is derived from the Latin word lemures, meaning "spirits of the night" or "ghosts"....
s, they are found only on the island of Madagascar

Madagascar

Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the List of islands by area, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are Endemism to Madagascar....
.

Sifakas are medium sized indrids, reaching a length of 45 to 55 cm (about 18-22 in) and a weight of 4 to 6 kg (about 9-13 lbs). Their tail is just as long as their body, which differentiates them from the Indri

Indri

The Indri , also called the Babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a Diurnal animal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar....
. Their fur is long and silky, with coloration varying by species from yellowish-white to black brown.

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How did lemur Sifaki or Sifaka get its name? Who named it? What is the name origin?

Encyclopedia

Sifakas ("sifaka" pronounced as shif-ahk) are a genus

Genus

Primate

Indriidae

The Indridae are a family of strepsirrhine primates. They are medium to large sized lemurs with only four teeth in the toothcomb instead of the usual six....
. Like all lemur

Lemur

Madagascar

Indri

Diurnal animal

Scientific term refered to as an animal behavior, diurnality indicates an animal that is active during the daytime and rests during the night. Animals that are not diurnal might be Nocturnality or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects and birds....
and arboreal

Arboreal

Arboreal is a word meaning "related to or resembling trees". Its meaning comes from the Latin arbor, meaning tree.In biology, an arboreal animal is one which inhabits or spends large amounts of time in trees or Shrubes....
. They are skillful climbers and powerful jumpers, able to make leaps of up to 10 m from one tree to the next. On the ground they move like all indrids with hopping movements of the hind legs, holding their forelimbs up for balance. When not searching for food they spend a good part of the day sun bathing, stretched on the branches. Sifakas live in larger groups than the other indrids (up to 13 animals). They have a firm territory, which they mark with smell glands. Edges of different sifaka territories can overlap. Even though they defend their territory from invasion by others of their species, they may peacefully co-exist with other lemur species such as Red-bellied Lemur

Red-bellied Lemur

The Red-bellied Lemur is a medium sized prosimian with a luxuriant chestnut brown coat. This lemur is Endemic to eastern Madagascar rainforests and is distinguished by patches of white skin below the eyes, giving rise to a "teardrop" effect, particularly conspicuous in the male....
and the Common Brown Lemur

Common Brown Lemur

The Common Brown Lemur is a species of lemur in the Lemuridae family. It is found in Madagascar and Mayotte....
. Successful invasions is known to result in death of male members, group takeover and infanticide

Infanticide

Infanticide is the practice of someone intentionally causing the death of an infant. Often it is the mother who commits the act, but criminology recognizes various forms of non-maternal child murder....
.

Sifakas are herbivore

Herbivore

Herbivory is a form of predation in which an organism, known as an herbivore, heterotrophs principally autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria....
s, eating leaves, flowers and fruits.

A four to five month gestation period ends with the birth of a single offspring in July. The young holds fast to the mother's belly when small, but then later is carried on her back. Young are weaned after about six months and reach full maturity at the age of two to three years. The life expectancy of the sifakas is up to 18 years.

Classification

Family Indriidae
Indriidae

The Indridae are a family of strepsirrhine primates. They are medium to large sized lemurs with only four teeth in the toothcomb instead of the usual six....
: woolly lemurs and allies

Genus Indri
Indri

The Indri , also called the Babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a Diurnal animal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar....
Genus Avahi
Woolly lemur

The woolly lemurs, also known as avahis or woolly indris, are nine species of strepsirrhine primates. Like all other lemurs, they live only on the island of Madagascar....
Genus Propithecus

P. diadema group

Diademed Sifaka
Diademed Sifaka

The Diademed Sifaka is an endangered species of sifaka, one of the lemurs endemic to certain rainforests in eastern Madagascar. This species is one of the world's largest living lemurs, with a total adult length of approximately 105 centimetres , half of which is tail....
, Propithecus diadema
Silky Sifaka
Silky Sifaka

The Silky Sifaka is a species of lemur found only in northeastern Madagascar. It is one of the rarest mammals on earth, and is listed as one of the World?s top 25 most critically endangered primates....
, Propithecus candidus
Milne-Edwards' Sifaka, Propithecus edwardsi
Perrier's Sifaka
Perrier's Sifaka

Perrier's Sifaka is a sifaka endemic to Madagascar. It has a length of 85 to 92 centimeters, of which 42-46 centimeters are tail. Perrier's sifaka has a very limited range in northeastern Madagascar between the Irodo River to the north and the Lokia River to the south....
, Propithecus perrieri
Golden-crowned Sifaka
Golden-crowned Sifaka

The Golden-crowned Sifaka is a medium-large lemur characterized by short, mostly white fur, prominent furry ears and a golden-orange crown. It weighs about 3.5 kg and is about 90 cm long....
, Propithecus tattersalli

P. verreauxi group

Verreaux's Sifaka
Verreaux's Sifaka

Verreaux's Sifaka is a medium sized primate in one of the lemur families, Indriidae. It lives in Madagascar and can be found in a variety of habitats from rainforest to western Madagascar dry deciduous forests and dry and spiny forests....
, Propithecus verreauxi
Coquerel's Sifaka
Coquerel's Sifaka

Coquerel's Sifaka is a medium-sized lemur of the sifaka genus Propithecus. Like all lemurs, it is endemism to Madagascar.Description...
, Propithecus coquereli
Van der Decken's Sifaka
Van der Decken's Sifaka

Van der Decken's Sifaka is a sifaka endemic to Madagascar. It has a length of 92 to 107 centimeters, of which 42-48 centimeters are tail. Van der Decken's Sifaka lives in western Madagascar....
, Propithecus deckenii
Crowned Sifaka
Crowned Sifaka

The Crowned Sifaka is a sifaka endemic to Madagascar. It has a length of 87 to 102 centimeters, of which 47-57 centimeters are tail. The Crowned Sifaka lives in western Madagascar....
, Propithecus coronatus

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