Head to head
Golden-Crowned Sifaka vs Verreaux's Sifaka
The golden-crowned sifaka and Verreaux's sifaka are both leaping lemurs from the same genus, but their ranges, discovery history, and conservation status set them clearly apart.
| Golden-Crowned Sifaka | Verreaux's Sifaka | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Propithecus tattersalli | Propithecus verreauxi |
| Coat colour | Golden-orange crown | Predominantly white with dark cap |
| Range size | Extremely small, one part of NE Madagascar | Wider, SW Madagascar dry forest |
| Described by science | 1988 | Earlier, 19th century |
| Main threat | Gold mining, agriculture | Habitat clearing for charcoal, farming |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered | Endangered |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Forest | Forest, desert |
Golden-Crowned Sifaka vs Verreaux's Sifaka: common questions
Which sifaka has the smaller range, the golden-crowned or Verreaux's?
The golden-crowned sifaka has by far the smaller range, restricted to one of the smallest natural ranges of any lemur species within a limited part of northeastern Madagascar, while Verreaux's sifaka is more widely distributed across the dry, spiny forest of southwestern Madagascar.
Why is Verreaux's sifaka known for a strange hopping walk?
This species moves across open ground with a distinctive sideways hopping motion because its body is built for vertical clinging and leaping between trees rather than walking on all fours, a trait shared by the golden-crowned sifaka but most commonly documented and photographed in Verreaux's sifaka.
Which sifaka was discovered more recently by science?
The golden-crowned sifaka was not formally described until 1988, making it one of the more recently recognised lemur species, while Verreaux's sifaka has been known to science for considerably longer, reflecting the golden-crowned sifaka's much more remote and restricted natural range.