Diademed Sifaka
Propithecus diadema diadema Bennett, 1832
CR A1cd

The word “diadem” refers to a cloth headband or crown worn as a sign of royalty, which accurately describes the black-topped head of this large sifaka. The diademed sifaka, in fact, rivals the indri for the title of largest living lemur, with some adults exceeding 7 kg in weight and measuring almost a meter from the nose to the base of the tail. Propithecus diadema diadema is an inhabitant of Madagascar’s eastern rain forests, being found north of the Mangoro River to somewhere below the Antainambalana River south of Maroantsetra. Although it is relatively widespread, this sifaka is not well-studied in the wild. Moreover, its numbers appear to declining significantly. Many areas from which it was previously reported, such as the Analamazaotra Special Reserve, no longer harbor wild populations, and this has caused primatologists to upgrade its conservation status to critically endangered. As are other large rain forest lemurs, the diademed sifaka is threatened by habitat destruction and hunting, and the latter threat appears to be increasing throughout its range. Protected areas in which it is still known to occur include the Mantady and Verezantsoro National Parks, the Betampona and Zahamena Nature Reserves, and the Ambatovaky Special Reserve.