Perrier's sifaka

Perrier's sifaka (Propithecus perrieri) is a species of lemur endemic to fragmented deciduous dry forests in northern Madagascar. As the smallest of the eastern sifakas of the P. diadema species group, Perrier's sifaka has a head-body length of 85–92 centimeters (33–36 in) and a 42–46 cm (17–18 in) tail, with body weights ranging between 4.3 and 5.0 kg (9.5 and 11.0 lb). With the exception of a rosy-brown tint on the ventral coat, the pelage is wholly black. The eyes are brown and forward-facing. Perrier's sifaka processes its voluminous folivorous diet with an enlarged cecum and two large intestines. For most of the 20th century, it was considered to be a subspecies of the diademed sifaka. It was controversially elevated to specific status on account of mitochondrial evidence published in the early 2000s.

Perrier's sifaka lives in small, matriarchal groups of two to six individuals. It is found at a high population density compared to other eastern sifakas due to the reduced sizes of its home ranges. Populations are heavily concentrated in areas with sandstone soil. Females are seasonal breeders, being receptive to mating for only a short time each year. The species suffers from high rates of infant mortality due to mother Perrier's sifakas' "bet-hedging" strategies, whereby they prioritize their own survival over their offsprings'. Dietary patterns change based on the season, with frugivory being practiced more frequently during the wet season and folivory being more common in the dry season.

The IUCN Red List classifies Perrier's sifaka as a critically-endangered species, and it is listed under CITES Appendix I. The estimated wild population is less than 500 individuals. It is primarily threatened by habitat destruction due to bush fires created for shifting agriculture, and deforestation for the production of charcoal and for the creation of mines. Poaching is also a threat, despite the presence of traditional taboos known as fady that proscribe hunting or consuming the species. Perrier's sifaka frequently descends to the ground to access drinking water from riverbeds, which makes it vulnerable to hunting during the dry season. Perrier's sifaka was previously much more widely distributed prior to the mid-Holocene, however a combination of climatic and anthropogenic factors resulted in its current distribution. It has never been kept in captivity.

From the Wikipedia article “Perrier's sifaka” (en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perrier%27s_sifaka&oldid=1384676494), by Wikipedia contributors, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). This block is kept separate from our own text.