Verreaux's Sifaka

Verreaux's sifaka is a medium-sized lemur with thick, silky white fur, often tinged silver or gold, a black face and a dark brown cap that runs down the nape. Males have a rusty chest patch from a throat gland, and the white tail and limbs contrast sharply with the black hands, feet and muzzle. A dark-headed melanistic form was once treated as a subspecies, but most experts now consider it a colour variant (Wikipedia; Mittermeier et al. 2013, general species account).

Diurnal and mostly tree-living, it clings and leaps between vertical trunks and can cross gaps of 9–10m. On the ground it crosses open areas with a sideways, bipedal 'dance' of hops with its arms raised. Groups of 2–14, usually 5–6, are led by females, and mating takes place in January–February with one young born in August–September. It can leap among the spiny trunks of the Didiereaceae without being hurt by them. It is a fossa prey species, and about 30% of infants are lost to predation (Wikipedia).

On this guide it is a target species of Berenty, Isalo, Kirindy, Zombitse-Vohibasia and Andohahela. The Berenty population is accustomed to visitors and the 'dance' is often seen there.