What do sifakas eat?

Sifakas are primarily folivores, which means they eat mostly leaves. They consume a variety of leaves from different plant species, including:

- Fresh, young leaves: Sifakas prefer to eat young, tender leaves, which are more nutritious and easier to digest.

- Leaves of specific plants: Each sifaka species has its own preferences for certain types of plants. For instance, Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) are known to consume leaves from the traveler's tree (Ravenala madagascariensis) and the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra).

- Fruits and flowers: While leaves make up the bulk of their diet, sifakas also occasionally eat fruits and flowers when they are available.

- Seeds and bark: During lean times, when leaves are scarce, sifakas may consume seeds and bark as sources of nutrients.

Sifakas are selective feeders, and their diet varies depending on the species and the availability of different food sources in their habitat. They use their hands and feet to grasp and pluck leaves from branches while hanging from trees. Sifakas have specialized digestive systems that allow them to extract nutrients from the tough and fibrous leaves they eat.