Gibbon
| Gibbons[1][2] Temporal range:Mioceneto Recent
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| Lar gibbon(Hylobates lar): female left, male right | |
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| Family: | Hylobatidae Gray,1870
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Gibbonsbelong to the group of lesser apes. They are known for their ability to swing from one tree to another with great agility and swiftness.
There are fourgeneraof gibbons. Gibbons live in dense tropicalforests,for example, inSumatra,Thailand,andMalaysia.[3]
Extraordinary abilities
[change|change source]Gibbons are the best tree travelers in the animal kingdom. They almost seem to be flying as they swing themselves hand over hand through the trees. Like great apes, gibbons can also walk upright on the ground. When they walk on the ground, gibbons hold their long arms in the air to keep them from dragging.[4]
Gibbons are "singers" too. Their powerful voices travel for kilometers through the forests of Southeast Asia. At times, a male, a female, and their young get together and "sing" in a chorus. These sounds help groups of gibbons stay in contact. They also tell unwelcome visitors to stay away.
Gibbons stay busy for most of the day. They swing through the trees, looking for leaves, flowers, fruit, and insects to eat. When night falls, small groups settle down in familiar trees for the night.
Male and female
[change|change source]Unlike most other primates, male and female gibbons are not very different in size and shape, although they may differ in color. The males are usually black, while the females tend to be ash blond. Female gibbons have one offspring per gestation period and live about 25 years.[4]
Taxonomy
[change|change source]The family is divided into fourgenerabased on theirdiploidchromosomenumber:Hylobates(44),Hoolock(38),Nomascus(52), andSymphalangus(50).[2][5]
- Family Hylobatidae:gibbons[1]
- GenusHylobates
- Lar gibbonor White-handed gibbon,Hylobates lar
- Agile gibbonor Black-handed gibbon,Hylobates agilis
- Müller's Bornean gibbon,Hylobates muelleri
- Silvery gibbon,Hylobates moloch
- Pileated gibbonor Capped gibbon,Hylobates pileatus
- Kloss's gibbonor Mentawai gibbon or Bilou,Hylobates klossii
- GenusHoolock
- Western Hoolock gibbon,Hoolock hoolock
- Eastern Hoolock gibbon,Hoolock leuconedys
- GenusSymphalangus
- Siamang,Symphalangus syndactylus
- GenusNomascus
- GenusHylobates
References
[change|change source]- ↑1.01.1Groves, Colin 2005. Wilson D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (eds)Mammal Species of the World.3rd ed, Johns Hopkins University Press, 178–181.[1]ISBN0-801-88221-4
- ↑2.02.1Mootnick A. & Groves C.P. (2005). "A new generic name for the hoolock gibbon (Hylobatidae)".International Journal of Primatology.26(4): 971–976.doi:10.1007/s10764-005-5332-4.S2CID8394136.
- ↑Groves C.P. 2005; Wilson D.E. & Reeder D.M. (eds)Mammal Species of the World: A taxonomic and geographic reference.3rd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 178–181.ISBN 0-801-88221-4
- ↑4.04.1Pous, DinoraBlue Planet Level 5.67/8
- ↑Geissmann, Thomas (1995)."Gibbon systematics and species identification"(PDF).International Zoo News.42:467–501.Retrieved2008-08-15.
Other websites
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