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Svenska On the island of Madagascar live unusual lemurs known as sifakas. Their long tails, nearly as long as their bodies, and their distinctive way of moving make them very noticeable among the forest dwellers.
These animals are sometimes called “dancing lemurs” — because when they leap across the forest floor, it truly resembles a light, almost ballet-like movement.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how sifakas move in their natural habitat and explore why their movements appear so unusual and graceful.
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The “dance” of the sifakas is explained by their body structure. They are adapted to life in the trees: their hind legs are very long, while their front limbs are much shorter. This helps them make powerful leaps between branches but makes ordinary walking nearly impossible.
When trees are spaced far apart and they have to come down to the ground, sifakas move sideways on two legs, balancing with their outstretched arms — this is where their famous “dancing” gait comes from, which looks both comical and elegant.
