Coquerel's Sifaka

Propithecus coquereli

A white-and-brown lemur of northwestern Madagascar that leaps between trees and hops sideways on the ground.

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About the Coquerel's Sifaka

Coquerel's sifakas live in dry forests and coastal mangroves of northwestern Madagascar. They are mostly white with brown patches on the chest, arms and thighs, a bare black face and yellow eyes. Long, powerful legs let them leap 20 to 30 feet from tree to tree. On the ground they hop upright on two legs with their arms out. They eat mostly leaves, plus fruit, flowers, seeds and bark.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Propithecus coquereli^[1]
Lifespan: 25 to 30 years.^[1]
Diet: Mostly leaves, plus fruit, flowers, seeds and bark.^[1]
Habitat: Dry deciduous and mixed forest, and coastal mangroves.^[1]
Where it lives: Northwestern Madagascar.^[1]
Group life: Groups of 3 to 10, led by females. Active during the day.^[1]
Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).^[2]

Fun facts

Sifakas can leap 20 to 30 feet from tree to tree.^[1]
On the ground, sifakas hop sideways on two legs with their arms out.^[1]
The name "sifaka" comes from the "shif-auk" sound they make.^[1]
The lemur on the TV show Zoboomafoo is a Coquerel's sifaka.^[1]

Vocabulary

lemur: A primate found in the wild only on Madagascar.
vertical clinging and leaping: Moving by holding onto tree trunks upright and jumping between them.
mangrove: A tree or swamp forest that grows in salty water along tropical coasts.
matriarchal: Led by females.
critically endangered: A conservation label meaning a species faces an extremely high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · MammalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Coquerel's sifaka.” https://www.sfzoo.org/coquerels-sifaka/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Propithecus coquereli (Coquerel's Sifaka).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18355/115572275 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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