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Verreaux's Sifaka


Verreaux's Sifaka
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1251 W: 0 N: 4829] (14332)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-28
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 70-200 f 2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-14 9:37
Viewed: 935
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today I thought I would 'jump' from the icy world of the polar bear to the island home of the lemurs. This is a Verreaux's Sifaka - the one that jumps. I saw a number of them jumping, but only manages the odd tail or leg! I quite liked this profile shot - it looks as if it is doing yoga (actually warming in the morning light).

How Close?

They come and sit very close as you are having breakfast - there are always a number 'hanging-around' the lodge (they are not fed though).

Sifakas are a genus (Propithecus) from the primate family Indriidae. Like all lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar.

Sifakas are medium sized indrids, reaching a length of 45 to 55 cm (about 18-22 in) and a weight of 4 to 6 kg (about 9-13 lbs). Their tail is just as long as their body, which differentiates them from the Indri. Their fur is long and silky, with coloration varying by species from yellowish-white to black brown. The round, hairless face is always black.

Sifakas are diurnal and arboreal. They are skillful climbers and powerful jumpers, able to make leaps of up to 10 m from one tree to the next. On the ground they move like all indrids with hopping movements of the hind legs, holding their forelimbs up for balance. When not searching for food they spend a good part of the day sun bathing, stretched on the branches. Sifakas live in larger groups than the other indrids (up to 13 animals). They have a firm territory, which they mark with smell glands. Edges of different sifaka territories can overlap. Even though they defend their territory from invasion by others of their species, they may peacefully co-exist with other lemur species such as Red-bellied Lemur and the Common Brown Lemur.

Sifakas are herbivores, eating leaves, flowers and fruits.

A four to five month gestation period ends with the birth of a single offspring in July. The young holds fast to the mother's belly when small, but then later is carried on her back. Young are weaned after about six months and reach full maturity at the age of two to three years. The life expectancy of the sifakas is up to 18 years.

Verreaux's Sifaka

(Propithecus verreauxi) can be found in a variety of habitats from rainforest to western Madagascar dry deciduous forests and dry and spiny forests. The fur is thick and silky and generally white with brown on the sides, top of the head, and on the arms. Like all sifakas, it has a long tail that it uses as a balance when leaping from tree to tree. However, its body is so highly adapted to an arboreal existence that on the ground its only means of locomotion is hopping. The species lives in small troops and forages for food in the morning and late afternoon, resting during the hottest part of the day.
writerscrawlz, Luis52, jaycee, NinaM, boreocypriensis, eqshannon, XOTAELE, xTauruSx, albert, Adanac has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eqshannon: Not subconsciouslyJamesp 1 03-14 16:12
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Critiques [Translate]

I have to admit that he does seem to be doing yoga! I like the pov here (to bad his face was turned), and my thoughts go to either he was warming up or decided to become a flasher!

I love the texture of his fur and of course, his pose. Nice job for getting a capture of 'one who always moves' in such an unusual position.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2801] (10142)
  • [2008-03-14 9:48]

Hi James.
Esta es una nueva especie de Primate nueva para mi. Bella la pose y con muy buena iluminacion.
Parece estar ocupado en su Yoga.
Saludos James.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4597] (14871)
  • [2008-03-14 9:56]

Hi James,

What a pose! Those hands are wonderful. His colors are so nice - wish we had a better view of his face even though the profile is excellent. He does look like he is leading a yoga class.

Jane

Hello James, what a pose the lemur has! The sun appears to be quite strong there, making exposure tough on the white hairs, but I like the profile of the head - as you say. The ground is great also, there is little distraction, monotone and makes it stand out. It must be great to see these animals in their natural habitat. I've only seen lemurs in the zoo. tfs your work. Rgds necip

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 562 W: 0 N: 1371] (4547)
  • [2008-03-14 10:46]

I wish I could live on leaves, flowers and fruits. It attracts me, I love these animals eating such poetic food, don't ask me why, it impresses me. This is a very nice yogi picture, James, I really like the beautiful light, the nice pose of the sifaka and all the small details we are able to see and observe. As usual, it comes with great notes, thank you!

Francine

Hi James,
What a lovly and wonderful shot friend! TFS. Cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 8 N: 1096] (4054)
  • [2008-03-14 15:09]

Hello James,

Very nice capture, he's sure enjoying the sun

Everton

What? Distracted from the almost Full Lotus position? Ahh..the master of Yoga would give him a lash....I say this in my usual jest..as it appears he is or should be meditating...what a neat pose...and you caught my words of jumping from one continent to another ...perhaps subconsciously...very neat..makes it fun to be on TN having folks like you James!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-03-14 18:40]

Hi James,
Wonderful shot of this yoga guru enjoying the early morning sunshine. Though there are parts of OE on its fur you still have managed the harsh sunlight and exposure skilfully. Nice natural colours and a fabulous pose captured against the red earth as BG. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello James,
the exposure and focus is very good in this shot with excellent sharpness, warm colour and details!
very well done
best regards
tony

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 379 W: 0 N: 360] (1947)
  • [2008-03-15 1:29]

Hi James
very nice image of lemur
very good sharp and composition
well doen.

Ommmmm!
Parece que estuviera practicando yoga.
Buenos detalles James y bonitos tonos.
Saludos, JL.

Hi James,
Perfect capture with lovely pose of this Sifaka. TFS. Regards, Deniz

Hello James,
Very good Sifaka's photo
The white fur is a bit overexposed but not easy to control under a strong morning light!
Well done
Albert

Well James, that Sifaka looks as if meditating there my friend, it is a difficult exposure made good and the notes very nourishing, as usual. TFS my friend!
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 168 N: 7420] (23432)
  • [2008-03-15 10:00]

Helo James,
THis is such a lovely and typical pose for a Lemur - a real sun worshipper or maybe it's practising Yoga!! Wonderful capture and you're so lucky to have visited their island home! Excellent sharpness and fine light and colours and I like the shadow that I expect was tooo long to include!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 916 W: 4 N: 2277] (10628)
  • [2008-03-15 10:22]

James,Excellent shot and very nice details. Well done and the composition is fantastic. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1043 W: 1 N: 4096] (13768)
  • [2008-03-16 4:37]

Hello James,
When I saw the thumbnail I immediately said this looks like a yoga master. Wonderful image of this lemur cayching some warming rays with superb camera work throughout. Thank you James.
Rick

Wonderful wonderful wonderful!!!
What a perfect pose! Your work is wonderful!!!!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-25 8:26]

Hello James

It looks like this yoga expert has broken his concentration.
The focus is sharp and the details are very good.
Lovely bright colours.
TFS

Rob

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