---
title: "Silky Sifaka"
description: "Propithecus candidus — Mammals. The silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus) is a large lemur characterized by long, silky, white fur."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/silky-sifaka
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Silky Sifaka

> Propithecus candidus — Mammals. The silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus) is a large lemur characterized by long, silky, white fur.

- Scientific name: *Propithecus candidus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest)
- iNaturalist observations: 106
- Wikidata: [Q763853](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q763853)
- iNaturalist taxon: [74958](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/74958)

## Names

- en: Silky Sifaka
- de: Seidensifaka
- es: Sifaka sedoso
- fr: Propithèque soyeux

## Countries with the most observations

MG (102)

## Summary

The silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus) is a large lemur characterized by long, silky, white fur. It has a very restricted range in northeastern Madagascar, where it is known locally as the simpona. It is one of the rarest mammals on Earth.  The silky sifaka is one of nine sifaka species (genus Propithecus), and one of four former subspecies of diademed sifaka (P. diadema). Studies in 2004 and 2007 compared external proportions, genetics, and craniodental anatomy supporting full species status, which has generally been accepted.
The silky sifaka has a variable social structure, and lives in groups of two to nine individuals…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silky_sifaka

## Photo

![Silky Sifaka](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/silky-sifaka/medium.jpg)

Photo: bat (Maria Vorontsova) · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65365905

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/silky-sifaka?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).