# Verreaux's Sifaka (*Propithecus verreauxi*)

> Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is a white-and-brown lemur that dances sideways across Madagascar's spiny forests on hind legs. Adults weigh about 3.5 kg, eat leaves and fruit, and are listed Endangered.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Endangered
- **Range:** Dry forests of southern and southwestern Madagascar.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sifaka/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Primates
- **Family:** Indriidae
- **Genus:** Propithecus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Propithecus verreauxi |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Spiny forest and dry deciduous forest |
| Lifespan | 18–25 years |
| Weight | 3–4 kg |
| Top speed | up to 25 km/h |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |

## Dancing lemur of the spiny forest

Sifakas bound bipedally across open ground between trees, arms raised for balance. Thick fur and leathery palms suit hot, thorny southern Madagascar.

## Leaves, fruit, and flowers

Diet shifts seasonally among leaves, fruit, bark, and flowers of drought-tolerant trees. Groups defend territories with loud calls and scent marking.

## Dry forests of southwest Madagascar

Spiny forest and dry deciduous woodland in Toliara and nearby regions. They need connected canopy and cannot cross cleared farmland easily.

## Endangered by slash-and-burn

IUCN lists Verreaux's sifaka Endangered. Charcoal production and maize fields fragment forests; ecotourism at Berenty and other reserves supports protection.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do sifakas dance on the ground?

They lack full terrestrial gait and hop sideways on hind legs between trees where gaps are too wide to leap.

### Where can you see sifakas in Madagascar?

Berenty Reserve and other protected dry forests in the southwest are famous viewing sites.

### Are sifakas related to monkeys?

They are lemurs — primates unique to Madagascar, separate from African monkeys and apes.

### What threatens sifakas?

Forest clearing for agriculture and charcoal, plus hunting in some areas.

### Why is Verreaux's sifaka Endangered?

Its specialised dry-forest habitat is shrinking fast across southern Madagascar.

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sifaka/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.