Mammals
Verreaux's Sifaka
Propithecus verreauxi · also called Verreauxs sifaka, dancing lemur
Crossing a sun-baked clearing in Madagascar’s spiny forest, a Verreaux’s sifaka bounds sideways in a hopping dance that looks almost comical on the ground, only to disappear into the canopy moments later with a powerful, effortless leap between trees.
Overview
Verreaux’s sifaka, Propithecus verreauxi, is a leaping lemur species native to forest and desert-fringe habitat across southwestern Madagascar. Its distinctive sideways hopping gait on the ground, powerful vertical clinging and leaping ability through the canopy, and close association with Madagascar’s threatened dry spiny forest make it one of the most visually memorable and habitat-specialised lemurs found anywhere on the island.
Built for trees, awkward on the ground
Wonderfully efficient among the branches yet almost comically ungainly on open ground, Verreaux’s sifaka’s sideways hopping gait is a direct consequence of a body shaped entirely around leaping rather than walking, a trade-off that works perfectly within its dry forest habitat.
Status
Endangered, having declined due to the clearing and degradation of dry spiny forest habitat across southwestern Madagascar.
Verreaux's Sifaka: common questions
Why does Verreaux's sifaka hop sideways on the ground?
This species moves across open ground with a distinctive sideways hopping motion because its body is far better adapted to vertical clinging and leaping between trees than to walking on all fours, making the ground-level hop its most practical way of covering open terrain.
How far can Verreaux's sifaka leap?
This species is a powerful leaper, capable of covering considerable distance between trees using strong hind legs adapted for vertical clinging and rapid leaping, a locomotion style that makes it highly efficient moving through the canopy despite its awkward ground gait.
What kind of habitat does Verreaux's sifaka live in?
This species is closely associated with the dry, spiny forest and deciduous woodland of southwestern Madagascar, a distinctive habitat type quite different from the humid rainforest favoured by many other lemur species.
Why is Verreaux's sifaka endangered?
This species has declined due to the clearing and degradation of dry spiny forest habitat across southwestern Madagascar for agriculture and charcoal production, pressures that have contributed to its classification as Endangered.