Propithecus tattersalli Simons, 1988

Scientific name:

Propithecus tattersalli

Scientist name:

Simons, 1988

Malagasy:

Ankomba Malandy, Simpona

English:

Tattersall’s Sifaka

German:

Tattersall’s-Sifaka

Other english:

Golden-crowned Sifaka

French:

Propithèque de Tattersall

Family:

INDRIIDAE Burnett, 1828

Taxa:

Propithecus

Species

Identification

Propithecus tattersalli is similar in size to the southern and western dry forest sifakas. It has a head-body length of 45–47 cm, a tail length of 42–47 cm, a total length of 87–94 cm, and a weight of 3.4–3.6 kg (Meyers, 1993; Ravosa et al., 1993; Lehman et al., 2005a). The dorsal coat is creamy-white, with similar coloration on the chest, shoulders, upper arms, genital region and rump. The forearms and tops of the legs often are pale orange. The ears are prominent and black, sporting distinctive white tufts that give the head a triangular appearance. The face is bare and black, and the eyes are orange. The most useful characters in field identification are the golden cap and the protruding ear tufts. This species cannot be confused with any other lemur in its range.

Natural history

The forests in the range of this sifaka are highly fragmented, and isolated by extensive degraded grasslands. Most are deciduous formations similar in composition to transitional dry forests of western Madagascar, and this species occurs in them at altitudes up to 700 m (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1989; Vargas et al., 2002). Of 75 forest tracts identified by researchers, 45 were inhabited by sifakas. Groups range in size from 3–10, with an average of five, and occupy territories of 9–12 ha (Meyers, 1993). Recent population density estimates range from 10–23 individuals/km2, and the total population is believed to be 6,000 to 10,000 animals (Meyers, 1996; Vargas et al. 2002).

This species is largely diurnal, though sometimes crepuscular during the rainy season, and sleeps at night in high emergent trees. Its diet consists of seeds, leaves, unripe fruits,

and flowers, and may also include tree bark during the dry season. Mating occurs in late January. Newborn infants are commonly seen in July and August, and weaning typically in December (Meyers and Wright, 1993; D. Meyers, pers. comm.).

Geographic range

Tattersall’s sifaka is quite restricted in range, being limited to forest patches in northeastern Madagascar between the Loky River in the north and the Manambato River in the south. Its range is centered on the town of Daraina and covers approximately 245,000 ha of human-altered degraded grasslands, dry scrub, agricultural land, gallery forests, littoral forests, and forest fragments (Meyers, 1993; Randrianarisoa et al., 1999; Vargas et al., 2002). It was first discovered in 1974, when Ian Tattersall sighted groups of animals north of Vohémar (Tattersall, 1982) and provisionally identified them as a variant of the silky sifaka (then Propithecus diadema candidus; Tattersall, 1982). More than a decade would pass before the species was finally described by science in 1988, when Elwyn Simons named it in honor of Tattersall (Simons, 1988).

Conservation status

The 2008 IUCN Red List assessment classified P. tattersalli as Endangered (EN). The major threats to its survival are slash-and-burn agriculture, uncontrolled grass fires, removal of trees and poles for housing and firewood, logging of precious hardwoods, gold mining, and some hunting. Now, however, hunting has perhaps become the most significant threat, especially by itinerant gold miners. Although gold miners were not observed to hunt this animal in 1995 during a period of intense mining activity (indeed, they even fed these animals every day in their camps near Daraina, R. A. Mittermeier, pers. obs.), more recent information indicates that these miners may have become a problem, at least in some areas.

A new conservation site to protect this species was declared in the Daraina region in June 2005, thanks largely to the efforts of Association Fanamby, a Malagasy non-governmental organization, and Conservation International. This 57,000-ha Loky-Manambato Protected Area is being managed by Association Fanamby in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Forests (Association Fanamby, 1998; Vargas et al., 2002).

As of 2010, this species was not being kept in captivity (I. J. Porton, pers. comm.).

Where to see it

This sifaka is most readily seen in forests south of the town of Antsahampano, between Daraina (about 10 km east) and the village of Andranotsimaty (Garbutt, 2007). There is basic accommodation at the headquarters of Association Fanamby, and trips to the area can be arranged by tour operators based in Antananarivo or Antsiranana (= Diégo-Suarez), or through Fanamby itself. However, it is best to go in the dry season, since the two-hour drive from Vohémar to Daraina in good conditions can turn into five or six hours during the rainy season.

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