Gibbons are small apes that are traditionally grouped in the genusHylobates. The genus is divided into four subgenera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates (44), Bunopithecus (38), Nomascus (52), and Symphalangus (50). Hylobates is the only genus in the family Hylobatidae.
Also called the lesser apes, gibbons differ from great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and humans) in being smaller, pair-bonded, in not making nests, and in certain anatomical details in which they superficially 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 Lar Gibbon or White-handed Gibbon, and the Hoolock Gibbon. The Siamang, which is the largest, is distinguished by having two fingers on each hand stuck together, hence the subgeneric and species names Synphalangus and syndactylus.
Classification
Family Hylobatidae: gibbons
Genus Hylobates
Subgenus Hylobates
Lar Gibbon or White-handed Gibbon, Hylobates (Hylobates) lar
Agile Gibbon or Black-handed Gibbon, Hylobates (Hylobates) agilis
The great apefamily was previously referred to as Pongidae, and humans (and fossil hominids) were omitted from it, but on grounds of relatedness there is no argument for doing this.
The Great Ape Project, founded by Australian philosopher Peter Singer, is campaigning to have the United Nations endorse its Declaration on Great Apes, which would extend to all species of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans the protection of three basic interests: the right to life, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture.
Apes are a branch of the Old World Monkeys that lost their tail, evolved very versatile shoulder joints, and doubled brain size.
Apes are "super monkeys" and humans are "super apes," having developed upright posture in the last 6 million years and then tripled brain size over that of the great apes starting about 2.5 million years ago.
Even in the lesserapes, one seldom sees the postures and facial expressions, so reminiscent of humans, that are frequent in the great apes (gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos).
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