Gibbon

Gibbons
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Suborder: Haplorhini Superfamily: Catarrhini Family: Hylobatidae Genus: Hylobates Genus: Bunopithecus Genus: Nomascus Genus: Symphalangus
Species
Hylobates agilis Hylobates klossii Hylobates lar Hylobates moloch Hylobates muelleri Hylobates pileatus Bunopithecus hoolock Nomascus concolor Nomascus nasutus Nomascus leucogenys Nomascus gabriellae Symphalangus syndactylus

Gibbons are small apes that were traditionally grouped in the genus Hylobates, though at present they are now divided them into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates (44), Bunopithecus (38), Nomascus (52), and Symphalangus (50). They make up the entirety of the family Hylobatidae. They are also called lesser apes, and differ from great apes in being smaller, generally monogamous, in not making nests, and in certain anatomical details in which they more closely resemble monkeys than the great apes do. They occur in tropical and subtropical rainforests from northeast India to Indonesia and north to southern China. Gibbons are masters of their primary mode of locomotion, brachiation, allowing them to swing from branch to branch distances of up to 50 feet, at speeds as much as 35 mph. Strongly territorial, they defend their boundaries with vigorous visual and vocal displays. The vocal element, which can often be heard for long distances, consists of a duet between the mated pair, the young animals sometimes joining in. This eerie song can make them an easy find for poachers who engage in the illegal wildlife trade and sales of body parts for use in traditional medicine. Most species are threatened or endangered, and the most important reason is degradation or loss of their forest habitat.

The species include the Siamang, the White-handed Gibbon, and the Hoolock Gibbon. The siamang, which is the largest, is distinguished by having two digits on each side stuck together, hence the species name syndactylus.

Classification

• ORDER PRIMATES
  • Suborder Strepsirhini: non-tarsier prosimians
  • Suborder Haplorhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes
    • Family Tarsiidae: tarsiers
    • Superfamily Platyrrhini
      • Family Cebidae: marmosets, tamarins, capuchins and squirrel monkeys
      • Family Atelidae: owl, howler and spider monkeys, titis, sakis and ukaris
    • Superfamily Catarrhini
      • Family Cercopithecidae: Old World monkeys
      • Family Hylobatidae: gibbons
        • Genus Hylobates
          • Hylobates agilis
            • H. a. agilis, Mountain Agile Gibbon
            • H. a. albibarbis, Bornean Agile Gibbon
            • H. a. unko, Lowland Agile Gibbon
          • Hylobates klossii, Kloss' or Mentawai Gibbon
          • Hylobates lar
            • H. l. lar, Malaysian Lar
            • H. l. carpenteri, Carpenter's Lar
            • H. l. entelloides, Central Lar
            • H. l. vestitus, Sumatran Lar
            • H. l. yunnanensis, Yunnan Lar
          • Hylobates moloch
            • H. m. moloch, Western Silvery Gibbon
            • H. m. pongoalsoni, Eastern Silvery Gibbon
          • Hylobates muelleri
            • H. m. muelleri, Mueller's Grey Gibbon
            • H. m. abbotti, Abbott's Grey Gibbon
            • H. m. funereus, Northern Grey Gibbon
            • H. m. ?, ?
          • Hylobates pileatus, Pileated or Capped Gibbon
        • Genus Bunopithecus
          • Bunopithecus hoolock
            • B. h. hoolock, Western Hoolock Gibbon
            • B. h.leuconedys , Eastern Hoolock Gibbon
        • Genus Nomascus
          • Nomascus concolor
            • N. c. concolor, Tonkin Black Crested Gibbon
            • N. c. furvogaster, West Yunnan Black Crested Gibbon
            • N. c. jingdongensis, Jingdong Black Crested Gibbon
            • N. c. lu, Laotian Black Crested Gibbon
          • Nomascus gabriellae, Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon
          • Nomascus leucogenys
            • N. l. leucogenys, Northern White-cheeked Crested Gibbon
            • N. l. siki, Southern White-Cheeked Crested Gibbon
          • Nomascus nasutus
            • N. n. nasutus, Eastern Black Crested Gibbon
            • N. n. hainanus, Hainan Black Crested Gibbon
            • N. n. ?, ?
        • Genus Symphalangus
          • Symphalangus syndactylus
            • S. s. syndactylus, Sumatran Siamang
            • S. s. continentis, Malaysian Siamang
      • Family Hominidae: great apes and humans

External links

• http://www.gibboncenter.org