White sifaka belong to the Indriid family, along with Indri and Avahi. They are vertical clingers and leapers, an upright body plan which has persisted since the early Eocene fossils. Species and subspecies of sifaka live in a ring around the coastal forests of Madagascar, only one form in any given forest. Extensive behavioural studies have been made of Milne-Edwards' sifaka, directed by Patricia Wright at Ranomafana National Park and of white sifaka similar to Berenty's at Beza Mahafaly Reserve, directed by Alison Richard and Diane Brockmann (http://bezamahafaly.commons.yale.edu/).

© Cyril Ruoso, www.ruoso-grundmann.com

Berenty's sifaka, like those at Beza, live in small groups of about 5 individuals including at least one adult male and female, often more. The largest group seen had 12. Females are dominant over males. Females have one infant a year. There are rarely two infants born in a group, and even more rare that both survive. Mating is mainly in January, births at the end of July.

For studies of sifaka at Berenty see publications by Alison Jolly, Soava Rakotoarisoa, Alison Richard, and Chiemi Saitoh.
 

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