Diademed Sifaka: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Lemurs and Little Primates · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. A white band runs across its forehead like a diadem, a jewelled headband. That is where the diademed sifaka gets its name.
2. When danger is near, it gives a call that sounds like a sneeze. Local names for it, such as simpona, come from that sneeze.
3. When it comes down from the trees to feed, play or cross a forest gap, it hops along on two legs.
4. Its leafy diet can contain harmful substances. So the sifaka climbs down to eat soil, which helps clean these out of its gut.
5. Babies are born with many of their milk teeth already through. They can try their first solid food at just three weeks old.

The quiz

1. Where does the diademed sifaka get its name?

• From its golden tail
• From its loud morning song
• From the white band across its forehead (correct)
• From the island where it lives

The white band above its eyes looks like a diadem.

2. What does the diademed sifaka's warning call sound like?

• A sneeze (correct)
• A whistle
• A dog's bark
• A drum

It makes a sneeze-like call, which gave rise to local names like simpona.

3. How does the sifaka move around when it is on the ground?

• It walks on all four legs
• It crawls on its belly
• It rolls into a ball
• It leaps on two legs (correct)

On the ground it moves by leaping on its two back legs.

4. Why does the diademed sifaka eat soil?

• To sharpen its teeth
• To help clear harmful substances from its gut (correct)
• To cool down on hot days
• Because it has no leaves left

Soil helps detoxify harmful compounds in its gut.

5. How old are baby sifakas when they eat their first solid food?

• One year
• Six months
• Three weeks (correct)
• Two days

Born with many milk teeth, they can eat solid food at three weeks.

More about the Diademed Sifaka

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries