Perrier's sifakas use vocalizations as a form of communication, including warning calls. Gron (2008) describes the sounds as sneeze like. Alloparenting and grooming are common forms of bonding. They use visual cues, such as genital swelling, to communicate sexual readiness. They are also likely to use chemical cues, as do other mammals.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perrier's sifakas are considered critically endangered by the IUCN. All Propithecus species are considered endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Human destruction of the habitats of Propithecus perrieri represents their biggest threat to survival. Humans use slash-and-burn agriculture, logging, mine for gemstones, and hunt these sifakas. Another natural cause of sifaka death and destruction of habitat are wildfires.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: critically endangered
There are no known adverse effects of Perrier's sifakas on humans.
Perrier's sifakas are important members of native ecosystems in Madagascar.
Perrier's sifakas may influence vegetation communities through their folivory and may disperse seeds when they eat fruits.
Perrier's sifakas are primarily folivorous, but they are also include fruit in their diet. They consume a wide variety of plants, leaves, seeds, and flowers. An average of 50% of their diet consists of leaves. These leaves come from a range of plants including Somotrorama species, Pittosporum orchrosiifolium, Sideroxylon species, Diospyros species, Olax species, and Dalbergia species. Their diet consists of 27% flowers of the plants Magifera indica, Sideroxylon, Vonga-vonga, Dalbergia, and Famoha. Fruit makes up about 17% of their diet and comes from the plants Tamarindus indica and Ficus pachyclada. Buds, petioles, and seeds finish off the remainder of their diets. This small portion of their food can come from the plants Scerocaryan and Landolphia. Rarely, but sometimes, they eat dirt.
Plant Foods: leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore , Frugivore )
Perrier's sifakas are native to and only found on the island of Madagascar. They can be found in the northeastern and northern parts of Madagascar.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
Perrier's sifakas are eastern Madagascar lemurs. They are found in dry and riparian forests that border rivers in northern Madagascar. The elevation range is 10 to 600 meters with most being found at about 500 meters. The forests that border the rivers are riparian. The canopy is continuous and the understory is open. The riparian forest gives way to dry forests. Dry forests have a low and open canopy with a variety of vines in the understory. Perrier's sifakas will travel over savannahs to go from one forest area to another. Annual rainfall is 125.0 cm with most of it falling between November and April.
Range elevation: 10 to 600 m.
Average elevation: 500 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
Other Habitat Features: riparian
There are no known Propithecus perrieri in captivity. The longest living Propithecus species in captivity was 36 years old. The closely related, diademed sifakas have the greatest risk of death before the age of 5. After the age of 5 an individual can be expected to live to about 15.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 15 years.
Perrier's sifakas have minimal sexual dimorphism, with females slightly larger (average of 4.44 kg) than males (average of 4.22 kg). The average body length is 48.9 cm. They have longer legs and tails than their torso and arms. They have coats of dense, silky, black fur except on their faces and ears which have no fur. Their eyes are small and face forward.
Range mass: 3.7 to 6.0 kg.
Average mass: 4.3 kg.
Average length: 48.9 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
The principal natural predators of Perrier's sifakas are fossas (Cryptoprocta ferox), which can travel on land and from tree to tree. Other possible predators include eagles and hawks. Raptors are mainly a danger to young. Humans also prey on sifakas. These sifakas use vocalizations to warn of possible danger.
Known Predators:
Perrier's sifaka mating habits have not been studied. In their close relative, Propithecus diadema, several different mating systems occur. Depending on group size, mating systems can be monogamous, polyandrous, polgynous, or polygnandrous.
Reproductive behavior of Propithecus perrieri has not been well-studied. Perrier's sifakas were once considered a subspecies of Propithecus diadema, diademed sifakas, which has been studied more thoroughly. In diademed sifakas, multiple mating strategies are present and they can change from season to season depending on group size and structure. Females are in estrus for a short period of time, about 10 hours. Both males and females show genital swelling at times of fertility. Females become sexually mature at about 4 years old and males at 5. Mating occurs in the summer and the birth of one offspring per female occurs 5 to 6 months later, typically in the austral winter month of June. Infanticide by both males and females has been observed in some groups of diademed sifakas. This can be attributed to the arrival of new males in the group and females having a short estrus time and long gestation period.
Breeding interval: Breeding interval is not known in Perrier's sifakas, but diademed sifakas breed about every year and a half.
Breeding season: In diademed sifakas, matings occur in the summer, December and January.
Average number of offspring: 4.36.
Range gestation period: 5 to 6 months.
Average gestation period: 6 months.
Average weaning age: 5 months.
Average time to independence: 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 4 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 5 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
There are no published reports of parental investment in Proptihecus perrieri. In the close relative, Propithecus diadema, mothers are the primary caregivers of their offspring. Very little alloparenting takes places in diademed sifaka groups. During the first weeks after birth the baby clings to the belly of its mother. At 3 to 4 weeks, offspring show more independence. There is contact with others in the group, play is often limited to other juveniles, but grooming is done by all. Around this time the baby will ride on the mother's back instead of the belly. Though the offspring are weaned around 5 months they stay under the mothers watch until about 2 years of age.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); post-independence association with parents; extended period of juvenile learning
With an EDGE score (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered scores combined) of 5.31, the peculiar Perrier’s sifaka (Propithecus perrieri) is considered one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.
Perrier’s sifakas are endemic to Madagascar and can be found in the northeastern parts, mainly on the Analamerana Special Reserve and some forest fragments to the west.
The thick, silky coat of Perrier’s sifaka is black, covering its entire body except for the face and ears. Females are slightly larger than males, and weight ranges between 3.7 to 6 kilograms.
During the dry season Perrier’s sifakas mainly eat leaves and flowers, but during the wet season they feed more on fruits and seeds.
Unlike most other species, Perrier’s sifakas have groups of unbiased sex dispersal of between 2 and 6 individuals, although societies seems to be mainly matriarchal, with females having feeding priority.
Perrier’s sifakas communicate using vocalisations, which includes warning calls who some describe as a sneeze-like sound. Grooming has also been observed.
The Perrier’s sifaka is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and numbers continue to decline. The number of mature adults is estimated to be less than 250 individuals – since 1985 an estimated third of the rainforest has disappeared. The decline in numbers is mainly due to habitat destruction. Hunting and predation from fossa may also have a negative impact on lemur population.
Perrier's sifaka (Propithecus perrieri) is a lemur endemic to Madagascar. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of diademed sifaka[4] It has a very small range in northeastern Madagascar where its habitat is dry deciduous or semihumid forest. Part of its range is in protected areas. It is an almost entirely black sifaka and measures about 90 cm (35 in), half of which is a bushy tail. Females are slightly larger than males.
It moves in small family groups through the canopy feeding on fruit, leaves, flowers, buds, and seeds. Groups have territories around one hectare and vocalise with each other. The main threats faced by this sifaka are habitat destruction and fragmentation due to slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal gathering, and logging. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".[5]
It has a length of 85 to 92 cm, of which 42–46 cm are tail.[6] Its pelage is almost entirely black,[6] covering everywhere on its body except for the face and ears. It has small, forward-facing eyes. The species has masses ranging from 3.7 to 6.0 kg. Minimal sexual dimorphism is seen, but females are slightly larger in weight on average.[7]
Perrier's sifaka has a very limited range in northeastern Madagascar between the Irodo River to the north and the Lokia River to the south.[6] The species' geographic range is concentrated on the Analamerana Special Reserve managed by Madagascar National Parks and in the Andrafiamena Protected Area managed by the NGO Fanamby.[8] Its presence in the Ankarana National Park has been reported a few decades ago, but could not be confirmed in the last decade.[8]
Its habitat consists of dry deciduous and semihumid forest.[6] Groups of this species have a home range around a hectare.
The hypothesis that northern sifaka species had their distribution contract is supported by phylogeographic, genetic, and fossil data.[9] In contrast to the other sifaka species, P. tattersalli and P. perrieri have a disjunct and restricted distribution in the northern part of Madagascar, far removed from the northern limit of their sister species. (Supplementary figure 1 in Salmona et al. 2017[9]) In addition, bones attributed to P. cf. verreauxi (i.e. western sifaka) and P. cf diadema (i.e. eastern sifaka) were found in Ankarana (Figure 1 in Salmona et al., 2017,[9] Jungers et al. 1995) and bones of P. cf diadema were reported at Andavakoera (Montagne des Français, Figure 1 in Salmona et al., 2017;[9] Godfrey et al. 1996). Although these sifaka subfossils were not radiocarbon dated, they suggest that the paleodistributions of both sifaka species were much wider than today and possibly overlapping.[9]
Using population genetic analyses, Salmona et al. 2017[9] inferred the demographic history of P.perrieri. Their analyses show that P. perrieri underwent a major demographic decline, which most likely occurred after the mid-Holocene transition (in the last 5,000 years). While mid-Holocene climate change probably triggered major demographic changes in northern lemur species range and connectivity, human settlements that expanded over the last four millennia in northern Madagascar likely played a role in the loss and fragmentation of the forest cover.[9]
The diet of Perrier's sifaka resembles that of other sifakas, consisting of fruit, leaves, flowers, buds, petioles, and seeds. Sifakas are naturally suited for this herbivorous diet because they have long gastrointestinal tracts and enlarged ceca.[10] Groups of sifaka do not show any aggression towards other groups when feeding, let alone come into contact with each other.[11] Sifakas in general show seasonal variation in diet. During the wet season, Perrier's sifakas contribute most of their feeding time, about 70 to 90%, to fruits and seeds, but in the dry season, most of the species' feeding time is spent on leaves and flowers.[10]
Perrier's sifakas use vocalizations to communicate including warning calls and have even been observed to make a sound described as sneezing.[7]
Sifakas have groups of two to six individuals.[6] Dispersal of sex is unbiased, which is uncommon among most species. Aggression between groups is extremely low, as is the overall encounter rates between groups. Society is largely matriarchal and females have feeding priority.[10] Mating habits have not been thoroughly studied yet.[7]
The reproductive cycle is bound to the season and sifakas reproduce either every year or every two years. Infants have a slow growth rate given the large abundance of food on Madagascar, but dental development is just the opposite. A hypothesis has been put forth that this is to reduce the dependency period of the offspring and increase the chance of survival for the mother, which does not have to expend energy and time to raise her offspring. Most females do not place much effort into individual offspring, as half of sifaka infants die before the age of one.[10] Infants become independent at the age of two and reach sexual maturity at the age of four for females and five for males. Males use genital swelling to communicate that they are ready for sex.[7]
Perrier's sifaka is one of the most endangered primates due to the limited distribution and low population density.[8][12] It is listed in CITES Appendix I.[2] A recent conservation plan for Perrier's sifaka has been developed following the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (SSC) Lemur Red List reassessment meeting in Antananarivo in 2012.[13][14] While selective logging still seems to be one of the main threads in Analamerana special reserve, deforestation for slash and burn agriculture and for charcoal production is predominant in Andrafiamena-Andavakoera protected area. Given the small total population size, persistence of local threats, and the paucity of wildlife patrols, an appraisal of its population levels and an effective control of habitat loss are urgently needed. This requires a unified regional management plan, since the species’ natural range and potential areas of migration/seasonal presence overlap with three areas of different protective status, independently managed by Madagascar National Parks (Analamerana and Ankarana) and Fanamby (Andrafiamena). Given the diverse group of stakeholders involved (e.g. park services, ministries, universities, tour operators, local businesses, farmers, etc.), P. perrieri conservation requires a clearly defined institution, committed to leading its conservation plan with incentives for inclusive action that take advantage of the strengths of the different participants .
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) Perrier's sifaka (Propithecus perrieri) is a lemur endemic to Madagascar. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of diademed sifaka It has a very small range in northeastern Madagascar where its habitat is dry deciduous or semihumid forest. Part of its range is in protected areas. It is an almost entirely black sifaka and measures about 90 cm (35 in), half of which is a bushy tail. Females are slightly larger than males.
It moves in small family groups through the canopy feeding on fruit, leaves, flowers, buds, and seeds. Groups have territories around one hectare and vocalise with each other. The main threats faced by this sifaka are habitat destruction and fragmentation due to slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal gathering, and logging. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".
