Verreaux's Sifaka

Sifakas exhibit female dominance characteristic of many lemur species, but their dominance expression differs from ring-tailed lemurs. Rather than coalition-enforced group dominance, sifaka females maintain individual dominance over specific males through targeted aggression. Each female establishes dominance relationships with males she interacts with regularly, creating a network of female-over-male dyads rather than categorical female supremacy.

The targeted approach makes dominance more personal. Females bite, cuff, and chase specific males who challenge their priority. This isn't random aggression—females rarely attack males who defer appropriately. The selectivity suggests sifakas remember individual relationships and calibrate aggression to past interactions. Males who submit consistently face little aggression; those who challenge face immediate punishment.

Scent-marking plays a crucial role in dominance expression. Both sexes scent-mark, but females overmark male scents—depositing their scent directly on top of male marks. This chemical dominance assertion doesn't require physical presence. A female's scent signal persists in areas she's visited, maintaining her dominance claim even when she's elsewhere.

Energy constraints may explain female dominance. Female lemurs face severe reproductive costs—pregnancy and lactation during Madagascar's harsh dry season. Priority access to food may be essential for female survival in ways that don't apply to males. The hypothesis suggests female dominance evolved because the fitness stakes are higher for females.

For organizations, sifakas demonstrate that dominance can be relationship-specific rather than categorical. An individual might lead in some relationships while following in others. This nuanced hierarchy better matches how authority actually operates in matrix organizations.