Rakotonirina et al, Primate Conservation In press 1 A preliminary assessment of sifaka (Propithecus spp.) distribution, 2 chromatic variation and conservation in western central Madagascar 3 1,2 2 4 Laingoniaina Herifito Fidèle Rakotonirina , Fetraharimalala Randriantsara , 2 2 1,2 5 Andoniaina Harilala Rakotoarisoa , Rado Rakotondrabe , Josia Razafindramanana , 2 1 6 Jonah Ratsimbazafy and Tony King 7 1 8 The Aspinall Foundation, BP 7170 Andravoahangy, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar; 9
[email protected];
[email protected] 2 10 Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar (GERP), Lot 34 11 Cité des Professeurs Fort Duchesne, Ankatso Antananarivo 101, Madagascar 12 13 14 Abstract 15 16 To help inform conservation efforts for the Endangered crowned sifaka Propithecus 17 coronatus, we attempted to better define the known-distribution of sifakas in western 18 central Madagascar through field surveys of 17 sites we considered likely to fall 19 within or close to the historic range of P. coronatus. We observed P. coronatus at 20 seven sites, in the Boeny, Betsiboka and Bongolava regions. At three sites at the 21 intersection of the Bongolava, Melaky and Menabe regions we observed populations 22 containing sifaka of P. deckenii appearance mixed with melanistic individuals. We 23 observed P. verreauxi at the two most southerly sites, in the Amoron'i Mania Region, 24 and P. coquereli at one north-easterly site in the Betsiboka Region, a southern 25 extension of 90 km to the known range of the species. At the four remaining sites 26 sifaka appeared to be either absent or extinct. We observed two other lemur species, 27 Eulemur mongoz in the Boeny Region, and E.