sifaka

noun

si·​faka sə-ˈfa-kə 

: any of several diurnal mostly black-and-white lemurs (genus Propithecus) with a long tail and silky fur

Examples of sifaka in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Duke Lemur Center in Durham, N.C., invites adopters to select one of eight species living at the facility (out of a total 14), including the aye-aye, blue-eyed black lemur or Coquerel’s sifaka, which resembles a startled monkey in a panda bonnet. —Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2021

Zoo officials said Anastasia was a Coquerel’s sifaka (CAH-ker-rells she-FAHK). —Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021

And the Maryland Zoo’s other Coquerel’s sifaka — a male — will be moving to another zoo to be part of a breeding pair, zoo officials said. —Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021

Although these are crucial refuges, Patel said, half of the remaining rare lemurs, including the silky sifaka, indri and ruffed lemur, eke out their survival in smaller, less pristine places. —Erik Vance, Star Tribune, 31 Oct. 2020

Although these are crucial refuges, Dr. Patel said, half of the remaining rare lemurs, including the silky sifaka, indri and ruffed lemur, eke out their survival in smaller, less pristine places. —Erik Vance, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2020

Meanwhile, the Coquerel’s sifaka, which mainly subsists on plant leaves full of indigestible cellulose, can take up to 24 hours to digest. —Kat Eschner, Smithsonian, 12 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Malagasy

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above