Propithecus coronatus, A. Milne-Edwards, 1871

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

12.

Crowned Sifaka

Propithecus coronatus

French: Sifaka couronné / German: Kronensifaka / Spanish: Sifaca coronado

Taxonomy. Propithecus coronatus Milne-Edwards, 1871 ,

Madagascar, Boueny Province.

Some experts consider this species to be synonymous with P. deckenii , with which it may occasionally hybridize along the upper reaches of the Mahavavy River and elsewhere. Collections made in the forests of Ambararatabe (to the west of the Mahavavy River) and sightings along the Bongolava Massif (west of Tsiroanomandidy) also appearto include individuals representing both species, as well as P. verreauxi , but reports of the co-occurrence of this species with P. deckenii along the lower course of the Mahavavy have never been confirmed. Monotypic.

Distribution. NW Madgascar, found discontinuously in the coast S of the Manambolo River, from where the distribution swings inland to the uplands before touching the coast again N and E of the Mahavavy River; reports of the Crowned Sifaka as far S as the Sakay River, as far E to Andanotongo, and SE beyond Tsiroanomandidy suggest that its distribution is more complicated than originally believed. Decken’s (PF. deckeniz) and Crowned sifakas are often found in the same areas, although the Crowned Sifaka tends to be found further inland than the more coastal Decken’s Sifaka. In general, the boundary between these two species is the Mahavavy River, while the Betsiboka River separates the Crowned Sifaka from Coquerel’s Sifaka (PF. coquereli ).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 39-45 cm, tail 48-57 cm; weight 3.2-3.7 kg. The Crowned Sifaka is a medium-sized species of Propithecus . The coat, including hindlimbs and tail, is creamy-white and variably tinted golden-yellow to golden-brown on the upper chest, shoulders, and upper forelimbs. It contrasts strongly with the chocolatebrown to black crown, forehead, cheeks, neck, and throat. The muzzle is blunt and rounded, even bulbous, in form, which readily distinguishes it from all others sifakas. The face is naked and black, but sometimes there is a patch of white fur across the bridge of the nose and very often slight white tufting around the ears.

Habitat. Tropical dry deciduous lowland forests from sea level to elevations of 700 m. The Crowned Sifaka occasionally enters mangrove forests.

Food and Feeding. Diets of the Crowned Sifaka consist mainly of leaves, supplemented with buds, unripe fruits, flowers, bark, and dead wood. In Badrala in the Antrema area, it consumes parts of at least 60 plant species in 32 families. In the wet season, only seven species made up 75% of the study group’s diet. Flower consumption increased in the wet season, whereas the bulk of the diet was mature leaves and fruits in the dry season.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. The Crowned Sifaka is diurnal and mainly arboreal. In one study spanning the dry and wet seasons, individuals spent 36-39% of their active time feeding and foraging, 47-50% resting, and 5-7% traveling. They traveled more during the dry season than the wet season.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Field studies of the Crowned Sifaka have been limited and short-term. At Anjamena, group size is 2-8 individuals, and home range size is 1-2-1-5 ha, with territories defended aggressively against neighboring groups. Mean group size in Badrala is 4-3 individuals, with groups usually consisting of 1-3 breeding adult males, 1-4 breeding adult females, and 1-4 immature offspring. Densities of 48 groups/km?* and 173 ind/km® have been recorded in Anjamena. Density of 300 ind/km? was recorded at Badrala.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Habitat loss is the principal threat faced by the Crowned Sifaka. Forest cover within its distribution has declined dramatically over the last few decades from burning for pasture and cutting for charcoal production. There is also some live capture for the illegal pet trade. It may occur in the Ambohijanahary and Kasijy special reserves and is found in the proposed Katsepy Reserve, which is already considered a sacred site by local people and thereby affords some level of protection. It also occurs in the Antrema Forest Station, which is the subject of a conservation program. A few classified forests within the distribution of the Crowned Sifaka may also harbor viable populations. It was present on the high plateau in the Ambohitantely Special Reserve until about the mid-20" century, but it is now absent from this small isolated locale.

Bibliography. Curtis et al. (1998), Groves (2001), Mittermeier et al. (2010), Mller et al. (2000), Petter & Andriatsarafara (1987), Petter & Peyrieras (1972), Petter et al. (1977), Pichon et al. (2010), Randrianarisoa, Rasamison & Rakotozafy (2001), Randrianarisoa, Rasamison, Rakotozafy & Totovalahy (2001), Rumpler et al. (2011), Tattersall (1982, 1986a, 1986b), Thalmann et al. (2002).

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 Madgascar, found discontinuously in the coast S of the Manambolo River, from where the distribution swings inland to the uplands before touching the coast again N and E of the Mahavavy River; reports of the Crowned Sifaka as far S as the Sakay River, as far E to Andanotongo, and SE beyond Tsiroanomandidy suggest that its distribution is more complicated than originally believed. Decken’s (PF. deckeniz) and Crowned sifakas are often found in the same areas, although the Crowned Sifaka tends to be found further inland than the more coastal Decken’s Sifaka. In general, the boundary between these two species is the Mahavavy River, while the Betsiboka River separates the Crowned Sifaka from Coquerel’s Sifaka (PF. coquereli ).