Head to head
Coquerel's Sifaka vs Golden-Crowned Sifaka
Coquerel's sifaka and the golden-crowned sifaka are both restricted-range lemurs from different corners of northern Madagascar, easily told apart by their coat markings but united by how little room either species has left.
| Coquerel's Sifaka | Golden-Crowned Sifaka | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Propithecus coquereli | Propithecus tattersalli |
| Coat | Mostly white with chestnut patches | Golden-orange crown marking |
| Habitat | Dry forest and gallery forest | Forest in a small part of northeastern Madagascar |
| Range size | Limited area of northwestern Madagascar | One of the smallest ranges of any lemur species |
| Scientific description | Long recognised | Not formally described until 1988 |
| Main threats | Deforestation, fire, farmland conversion | Gold mining, slash-and-burn agriculture |
| Ground movement | Upright, sideways hop | Upright, sideways hop |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Critically Endangered |
Coquerel's Sifaka vs Golden-crowned Sifaka: common questions
Which sifaka was discovered more recently by science, Coquerel's or the golden-crowned?
The golden-crowned sifaka, which was not formally described until 1988, far more recently than Coquerel's sifaka, despite the golden-crowned sifaka's distinctive and easily noticed head marking.
Which sifaka has the smaller range, Coquerel's or the golden-crowned?
The golden-crowned sifaka, which has one of the smallest natural ranges of any lemur species, confined to a small part of northeastern Madagascar, smaller than Coquerel's sifaka's range in the northwest.
How can you tell Coquerel's sifaka and the golden-crowned sifaka apart?
Look at the coat: Coquerel's sifaka is mostly white with chestnut patches on the thighs and arms, while the golden-crowned sifaka shows a distinctive patch of golden-orange fur on top of its head.