Propithecus coquereli (Grandidier, 1867)

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Indriidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 142-175 : 170

13.

Coquerel’s Sifaka

Propithecus coquereli

French: Sifaka de Coquerel / German: Coquerel-Sifaka / Spanish: Sifaca de Coquerel

Taxonomy. Cheirogalus [sic] coquereli Grandidier, 1867 ,

Madagascar, Morondava.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NW Madagascar from near Bealalana in the N to the Betsiboka River, S limit is reportedly Ambato Boeni, and E boundary is near Antetemasy (just W of Befandriana Nord).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 42-50 cm, tail 50-60 cm; weight 3-7 kg. Coquerel’s Sifaka is a medium-sized species of Propithecus, with long dense fur and a low narrow snout. The dorsal color is mostly white, including the head and tail, with prominent chestnut-brown to maroon patches covering the chest and anterior and interior aspects of forelimbs and hindlimbs. There also are occasionally similarly colored or even silvery patches on the base of the back. The skin of the muzzle and face is bare and black, except for a white patch of fur extending across the bridge of the nose. Ears are small, black, and naked, and they are visible above the white fur of the head and cheeks. Eyes are yellow. An aberrant population has been reported in which individuals have the patterning described above but with a charcoal gray-black coloration instead of reddish-brown. The dark gray also extends somewhat on to the forehead of this variant.

Habitat. Commonly in mixed deciduous dry and semi-evergreen lowland forests from near sea level up to elevations of 300 m and often in brush-and-scrub and secondary forest immediately adjacent to primary forest. Coquerel’s Sifaka has also been seen in coastal mangroves in the Bay of Mahajamba.

Food and Feeding. Diets of Coquerel’s Sifaka consist mainly of young leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, and dead wood in the wet season and mature leaves and buds in the dry season. As many as 98 different plant species have been found in its diet.

Breeding. Births of Coquerel’s Sifaka are clustered in June-July. Usually a single young is born after gestation of ¢.162 days. Infants cling to their mother’s chest for the first month or so and then transfer to her back. All group members interact with young; grooming, playing, carrying, and nursing are the most common alloparental behaviors. Complete independence occurs by about six months of age, and adult size is reached in one year. Sexual maturity in both sexes occurs at c.2-5 years.

Activity patterns. Coquerel’s Sifaka is diurnal and mainly arboreal. As with other western sifaka species, Coquerel’s Sifaka regularly descends to the ground. Interestingly,its ground locomotion is somewhat different from that of Verreaux’s Sifaka (PF. verreaux), further to the south. Whereas the latter usually bounds along the ground in a sideways position, Coquerel’s Sifaka leaps forward in a kangaroo-like fashion.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In the forests of Ankarafantsika National Park, Coquerel’s Sifaka occurs in small mixed groups of 3-10 individuals, with home ranges of 4-9 ha, and with estimated densities approaching 60 ind/km?®.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Coquerel’s Sifaka is severely threatened by habitat destruction and hunting, and its restricted distribution makes it particularly susceptible to these threats. Slashand-burn agriculture and annual burning to generate new pasture for livestock are the principle causes of forest loss, but trees in this part of Madagascar are also cut to produce charcoal. All of these practices are problematic even in officially protected areas. Hunting for food is increasing; local traditions place taboos on the practice, but immigration to the region is changing these beliefs. The only protected areas in which Coquerel’s Sifaka is known to occur are the Ankarafantsika National Park and Bora Special Reserve. Unfortunately, hunting pressure on sifakas is significant in Ankarafantsika, and Bora has become seriously degraded. Populations have also been reported from the forests of Anjiamangirana, Anjajavy, the Narindra Peninsula, and Mariarano, which should be considered for protection.

Bibliography. Albignac (1981a), Eaglen & Boskoff (1978), Ganzhorn (1988), Garcia & Goodman (2003), Groves (2001), Kappeler (1991), Kubzdela et al. (1992), Mittermeier, Konstant et al. (2006), Mittermeier, Langrand et al. (2010), Nicoll & Langrand (1989), Petter (1962), Poorman (1983), Randrianambinina, Rasoloharijaona et al. (2003), Ravosa et al. (1993), Richard (1974b, 1976, 1978a, 1978b, 1987), Simons (1988), Tattersall (1982, 1986b).

Figures

On following pages: 12. Crowned Sifaka (Propithecus coronatus); 13. Coquerel’s Sifaka (Propithecus coquerell); 14. Tattersall’s Sifaka (Propithecus tattersall); 15. Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema); 16. Milne-Edwards's Sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi); 17. Silky Sifaka (Propithecus candidus); 18. Perrier’s Sifaka (Propithecus perrieri).

Distribution. NW Madagascar from near Bealalana in the N to the Betsiboka River, S limit is reportedly Ambato Boeni, and E boundary is near Antetemasy (just W of Befandriana Nord).