# Crowned sifaka (*Propithecus coronatus*) The crowned sifaka is a playful lemur with a beautiful crown of fur on its head. They love to jump between trees and are known for their amazing acrobatic skills in the forests of Madagascar. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Crowned Lemur ![Crowned sifaka](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Propithecus_coronatus_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jose Antonio. The original uploader was Jose Antonio at Italian Wikipedia ., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Propithecus_coronatus_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Crowned sifaka has mostly white fur with a distinct dark brown or black cap covering its head, giving it a regal look. Its tail is also white, matching its body, and some individuals may have light brown patches on their shoulders or back. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Indriidae - **Genus:** Propithecus ## Interesting facts - Baby sifakas ride securely on their mom's belly for months! - Their dark crown of fur gives them their royal-sounding name. - They spend almost their entire lives high up in the forest trees. - When on the ground, they do a funny sideways 'dance' on two legs! ## Special abilities - **Leaping Master:** Crowned sifaka can leap 10 meters between trees because of powerful legs, helping them move quickly and safely. - **Vertical Grippers:** Crowned sifaka has strong hands and feet that let them cling vertically to trees, helping them rest and observe. - **Digestive Powerhouse:** Crowned sifaka has a special gut that breaks down tough leaves, helping them extract all their nutrients. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-55 cm - **Weight:** 3.5-4 kg - **Lifespan:** 18-20 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 162 days ## Diet & Feeding These lemurs munch mainly on leaves, with some flowers and fruits as tasty treats. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Bark - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Fossa](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fossa) (*Cryptoprocta ferox*) — Apex predator in Madagascar. - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Buzzard (*Buteo brachypterus*) — Hunts small to medium lemurs. - **Depends on:** Tamarind Tree (*Tamarindus indica*) — Provides leaves for food and shelter. - **Depends on:** Grandidier's Baobab (*Adansonia grandidieri*) — Offers leaves and shelter. - **Depends on:** Greve's Fig (*Ficus grevei*) — Provides fruits and leaves. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild animals like sifakas. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Crowned sifaka? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Crowned sifaka? 45-55 cm ### How much does Crowned sifaka weigh? 3.5-4 kg ### How long does Crowned sifaka live? 18-20 years ### How fast can Crowned sifaka move? 15 km/h ### What does Crowned sifaka eat? These lemurs munch mainly on leaves, with some flowers and fruits as tasty treats. ### Where is Crowned sifaka usually found? Forests ### How does Crowned sifaka hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Cotswold Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cotswold-wildlife-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Brandywine Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandywine-zoo) — Delaware, US · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Crowned sifaka: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crowned-sifaka)