Diademed Sifaka[1]
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Indriidae Genus: Propithecus Species: P. diadema
Binomial name
Propithecus diadema Bennett, 1832

The Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema) is an endangered species of sifaka, one of the lemurs endemic to certain rainforests in eastern Madagascar. This species is one of the world's largest living lemurs, with a total adult length of approximately 105 centimetres (41 inches),^[3] half of which is tail. Russell Mittermeier, one of the contemporary authorities on lemurs, describes the Diademed Sifaka as "one of the most colorful and attractive of all the lemurs", having a long and silky coat.^[4] Like all other prosimians, this species has evolved independently of other primates for about 55 million years (Madagascar separated from the African continent about 90 million years ago.) P. diadema is also known by the Malagasy names Simpona, Simpony and Ankomba Joby. The term "Diademed Sifaka" is also used as a group species designation encompassing four distinct subspecies. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2460x1996, 435 KB) author releases rights to wikipedia photo taken april, 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn2. ... The critically endangered Amur Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... Animalia redirects here. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... I smoke weed im growing a blue penis dude#REDIRECT penises are cool ... Families 15, See classification A primate (L. prima, first) is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... Genera The Indriidae (also spelled Indridae) are a family of strepsirrhine primates. ... Species Propithecus diadema Propithecus edwardsi Propithecus perrieri Propithecus tattersalli Propithecus verreauxi Propithecus coquereli Propithecus deckenii Sifakas are a genus (Propithecus) from the primate family Indridae. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Edward Turner Bennett (1797 - August 21, 1836) was an English zoologist and writer. ... The critically endangered Amur Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... Type Species Propithecus diadema Bennett, 1832 Species Propithecus diadema Propithecus candidus Propithecus edwardsi Propithecus perrieri Propithecus tattersalli Propithecus verreauxi Propithecus coquereli Propithecus deckenii Sifakas are a genus (Propithecus) from the primate family Indriidae. ... Superfamilies and Families Cheirogaleoidea Cheirogaleidae Lemuroidea Lemuridae Lepilemuridae Indriidae Lemurs are members of a class of primates known as prosimians and make up the infraorder Lemuriformes. ... Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750 mm and 2000 mm. ... Russell Mittermeier is a primatologist, herpetologist and biological anthropologist. ... Prosimians are the most primitive extant primates; they represent forms that were ancestral to monkeys, apes and humans. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Color-coded regions of the world based on the seven commonly-recognised continents Dymaxion map by Buckminster Fuller shows land masses with minimal distortion as nearly one continuous continent A continent is one of several large areas of land on Earth, which are identified by convention rather than any strict...

Description

P. diadema is readily distinguished from all the other lemur species (which number in excess of 70 as of 2006) by its characteristic markings and large physical size. Its entire coat is moderately long, silky and luxuriant. The long white fur encircling his muzzle and covering its cheeks, forehead and chin, engenders the "diadem" or crown appearance. Its eyes are a reddish-brown, the muzzle is short, and the face is bare with colourisation of darkish gray to jet black. The crown fur is also quite black and often extends to the nape of the neck. The upper back and shoulder fur are slate grayish, although the lower back is lighter in colour attaining a silvery quality. Flanks and tail are a paler gray, sometimes even white, as is the case for ventral fur. Hands and feet are entirely black, while arms, legs and base of tail are a yellowish-golden hue. Only the male is endowed with a large cutaneous gland at the exterior center of the throat, which feature is typically reddish-brown. A muzzle can be: The mouth of a firearm, see firearm muzzle The projecting nose of an animal, see animal muzzle An arrangement of straps used to bind an animal muzzle shut, or otherwise prevent it from biting. ... Look up Diadem in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up nape in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A human neck. ... This article is about skin in the biological sense. ... A gland is an organ in an animals body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). ... Look up Throat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Range and habitat

Diademed Sifaka ready to leap. Photo credit: C. Michael Hogan

The Diademed Sifaka is one of the mostly widely distributed member of the Propithecus genus, although definitive mapping of its range has not been conducted.^[5] Occurrence is at altitudes of 200 to 800 metres (656 to 2624 feet) throughout much of the eastern Madagascar lowland forests and altitudes 800 to 1550 metres (2624 to 5084 feet); in portions of the Madagascar subhumid forests. These two biomes have been designated as a Global 200 ecoregion, one of the world's most significant regions for conservation. Geographically the range extends to at least the Mananara River in the north to the Onive and Mongoro Rivers in the south. One set of researchers has recorded a clinal variation between Propithecus diadema and Propithecus edwardsi in the extreme southern portion of the range.^[6] As with all Indriidae, this species and its entire genus have [[evolution}evolved]] on the island of Madagascar independent of other mainland African species. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2736x2096, 978 KB) photographer: C. Michael Hogan releases all rights to wikipedia photo taken april 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2736x2096, 978 KB) photographer: C. Michael Hogan releases all rights to wikipedia photo taken april 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Madagascar lowland forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion, found on the eastern coast of the island of Madagascar. ... The Madagascar subhumid forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion which covers most of the central highlands of the island of Madagascar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Cline can refer to: Term meaning gradual change (from the Greek [klÄ«nein], to lean) In population genetics, a cline is a gradual change of a character or feature (phenotype) in a species over a geographical area. ... Binomial name Propithecus edwardsi A. Grandidier, 1871 Milne-Edwards Sifaka is a large arboreal, diurnal lemur endemic to the eastern coastal rainforest of Madagascar. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ...

An anomalous outlier population of P. diadema has been discovered in south central Madagascar; the members of this population exhibit an array of different colour markings, including at least one observation of an all black lemur. DNA analyses have not resulted in consistent results as to whether this group of individuals should constitute a new species. Scientists have decided to classify this outlier group as P. diadema until further research warrants designation of a separate species. The structure of part of a DNA double helix. ...

Specific locations for sighting the Diademed Sifaka are Mantadia National Park (approximately three hours in driving time from the capital city of Antananarivo) and in the forests of Tsinjoarivo.^[7] Mantadia National Park is a protected area consisting principally of primary growth forest in the eastern part of Madagascar. ... Antananarivo, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar Antanànarìvo (pronounced IPA [æntəˌnænəˈɹiːvoʊ] or [ɑːntəˌnɑːnəˈɹiːvoʊ]), population 1,403,449 (2001 census), is the capital of Madagascar, in Antananarivo province. ...

Behaviour

Diademed Sifaka mid canopy, Mantadia National Park

The Diademed Sifaka forms groups typically of two to ten individuals, which may include multiple male and female adults. Each troop defends an exclusive home territory of 25 to 50 hectares (62 to 125 acres) using perimeter scent territorial marking by both the males and females. Although the Diademed Sifaka defends the group's territory strongly against other members of their same species, it will share territory with other species such as the Red-bellied Lemur and the Common Brown Lemur. P. diadema is thought to traverse the greatest daily path distance relative to other members of its family in its patrolling and foraging, attaining a typical travel distance in excess of 1.6 kilometres (one mile) per day. To accomplish this it consumes a diet high in energy content and diverse in plant content, each day consuming over 25 different vegetative species. This diurnal prosimian further diversifies its diet by consuming not only fruits, but certain flowers, seeds and verdant leaves,^[8] in proportions that vary by season. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1208x1064, 206 KB) author releases rights photo taken in Montadia National Park, Madagascar in Apr 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1208x1064, 206 KB) author releases rights photo taken in Montadia National Park, Madagascar in Apr 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... In ethology, sociobiology and behavioral ecology, the term territory refers to any geographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics (and, occasionally, animals of other species). ... Binomial name Eulemur rubriventer (I. Geoffroy, 1850) The Red-bellied Lemur (Lemur rubriventer) is a medium sized prosimian with a luxuriant chestnut brown coat. ... Diurnal may mean: in biology, a diurnal animal is an animal that is active in the daytime. ... Prosimians are the most primitive extant primates; they represent forms that were ancestral to monkeys, apes and humans. ...

For a large lemur, the Diademed Sifaka is rather athletic, being capable of lateral aerial propulsion of up to 30 kilometers per hour, a result of muscular leg thrusting action pushing off from a vertical tree trunk.^[8] It is possible, although not proven, that its vigourous health characteristics are enhanced from high consumption of two plants which contain high concentrations of alkaloids. This species is arboreal, and only rarely are seen on the ground; moreover, it is a vertical clinger and lateral leaper. Diagram of Ephedrine An alkaloid, strictly speaking, is a naturally-occurring amine produced by a plant,[1] but amines produced by animals and fungi are also called alkaloids. ... This article is about the biological organisms known as trees. ...

The Diademed Sifaka makes a warning call resembling the sound "kiss-sneeze" when a terrestrial predator is perceived;^[9] the sole terrestrial predators of P. diadema are the Fossa and Nile crocodile. Terrestrial literally means of the earth and is used in a variety of contexts: In biology and in the general sense, terrestrial means indicates ground-dwelling (compare aquatic). ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Fossa has several meanings. ... Binomial name Crocodylus niloticus (Laurenti, 1768) The Nile crocodile is one of the 3 species of crocodiles found in Africa, and one of the largest species of crocodile. ...

Sexual maturity occurs after age two or three, with the male maturing somewhat more slowly than the female. Little is known of mating behaviour; however, it is believed that the female is receptive only a few days per year. Being dominant, the female has the greatest input to mate selection. Copulation occurs in the summer (around December), and the expected number of births is one offspring per female per annum.

Conservation issues

The Diademed Sifaka is classified as endangered, designation EN A4cd according to the IUCN Red List. As of the year 2002, population estimates for the species range between 6,000 and 10,000 individuals.^[10] The primary threat is habitat reduction due to shifting cultivation by native peoples. This threat is also present even within designated national parks, which are sufficiently distant from the center of government, that enforcement of existing national laws protecting P. diadema habitat is problematic. Pressures of overpopulation in central and eastern Madagascar are causing many of the rural poor to seek subsistence by seizing whatever forest lands are available and undertaking slash-and-burn tactics as their initial step in a shifting cultivation system. Returns from such land use are usually meager, yielding small amounts of charcoal, firewood or grass crop for grazing of Zebu. The World Conservation Union or International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. ... Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which a person uses a piece of land, only to abandon or alter the initial use a short time later. ... Map of countries by population —showing the population of the China and India in the billions. ... Assarting in Finland in 1892 Slash and burn (a specific practice that may be part of shifting cultivation or swidden-fallow agriculture) is an agricultural procedure widely used in forested areas. ... Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which a person uses a piece of land, only to abandon or alter the initial use a short time later. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. ... Wood burning is the largest current use of biomass derived energy. ... Grazing is the regular consumption of part of one organism without killing it by another organism. ... Trinomial name Bos taurus indicus Linnaeus, 1758 Zebus (Bos taurus indicus), sometimes known as nothing cattle, are better-adapted to tropical environments than other domestic cattle. ...

Classification

The Diademed Sifaka and four other sifaka species form a tight species group within the Propithecus genus. The other four species are Milne-Edwards' Sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi), Perrier's Sifaka (P. perrieri), the Golden-crowned Sifaka, P. tattersalli, and the Silky Sifaka (P. candidus). All of these species have luxuriant silky coats and are powerful leapers. They share similar characteristics of gestation length (four months), age of sexual maturity, female dominance, life expectancy (18 years) and propensity for sunbathing while stretched out on a branch. They differ distinctly in colouration and markings, except for having universally totally black faces. Binomial name Propithecus edwardsi A. Grandidier, 1871 Milne-Edwards Sifaka is a large arboreal, diurnal lemur endemic to the eastern coastal rainforest of Madagascar. ... Binomial name Propithecus tattersalli Simons, 1988 The golden-crowned sifaka is a medium-large lemur characterized by short, mostly white fur, prominent furry ears and a golden-orange crown. ... Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. ... Sunlight is also the trade name of the worlds first packaged, branded laundry soap producted by Lever Brothers. ...

References

Dr Colin Groves is a Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. ... November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Antananarivo, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar Antanànarìvo (pronounced IPA [æntəˌnænəˈɹiːvoʊ] or [ɑːntəˌnɑːnəˈɹiːvoʊ]), population 1,403,449 (2001 census), is the capital of Madagascar, in Antananarivo province. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Propithecus diadema

• Duke University fact sheet for Diademed Sifaka
• Photo of leaping Diademed Sifaka
• University of Michigan fact sheet for Diademed Sifaka