One of Madagascar’s most striking and rare lemurs, instantly recognizable for its dramatic coloration and elegant leaping movements. Endemic to the dry deciduous forests and gallery forests of northwestern Madagascar, it is a close relative of Coquerel’s sifaka but has a unique appearance that sets it apart. Its combination of rich black, golden, and creamy white fur, along with its playful and acrobatic behavior, makes it one of the most beautiful lemurs in the world.

Its fur pattern is what makes it stand out: the head and crown are covered in dark brown or black fur, while the body is largely white or cream-colored, and the arms and legs often show warm golden or reddish tones. This bold and regal palette is what gives it the name “crowned sifaka.”

Like all sifakas, the crowned sifaka is a master of vertical leaping locomotion. It moves primarily through the trees, springing between trunks with powerful leaps that can span up to 10 meters (30 feet). On the ground, it adopts the sifaka’s famous sideways bipedal hop, often described as a “dance.” Watching a crowned sifaka bound across open ground with its arms held out for balance is one of Madagascar’s most delightful wildlife sights.

Crowned sifakas live in small social groups of 3–10 individuals, with females typically holding dominance over males. They are herbivores, feeding mainly on leaves, flowers, fruits, and bark. Like other sifakas, they play a key ecological role in their forests as seed dispersers, ensuring that plant diversity is maintained. Their communication includes grunts, hisses, and the characteristic “shi-fak” call that gives the genus its name, usually used as an alarm against predators such as hawks and fossas.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Madagascar

CR

2018