One of Madagascar’s most charismatic lemurs, known for its bold chestnut-and-white coat, expressive golden eyes, and most of all, its incredible way of moving. While many primates swing or climb, sifakas have evolved a unique form of locomotion: they leap sideways across the ground in an elegant, dancing motion, giving them the nickname of “dancing lemurs.” Watching a troop bound gracefully from tree to tree or dance across open ground is one of Madagascar’s great wildlife spectacles.

Their distinctive coloration sets them apart: the head, back, and upper limbs are a rich reddish-brown, while the thighs, legs, arms, and underside are bright white. This bold contrast is not just eye-catching to us—it also makes them stand out in the dense green forests of Madagascar, possibly helping them stay visually connected within groups.

Coquerel’s sifakas are arboreal specialists, thriving in Madagascar’s dry deciduous forests. They feed mostly on leaves, flowers, fruits, and bark, using a specialized digestive system to handle tough, fibrous vegetation. Their social groups, usually 3–10 individuals, are often female-dominated—a common trait among lemurs. Females lead the way during foraging, and their choices dictate the group’s movements.

Behaviorally, sifakas are famous for their leaping skills. In trees, they use powerful hind legs to spring distances of up to 9–10 meters (30 feet) between trunks, twisting midair and landing with perfect control. On the ground, their unusual upright posture forces them into a side-to-side hopping gait, which looks almost like a carefully choreographed dance. Beyond locomotion, they are social animals, communicating with a range of barks, grunts, and alarm calls—their name “sifaka” actually comes from their characteristic “shi-fak” alarm call.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Madagascar

CR

2018