The Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates (Hylobates) moloch) is a primate in the Hylobatidae or gibbon family. Their skin is bluish gray colored with a dark grey or black cap. Like all gibbons they do not have a tail and their arms are very long compared to their body. They reach an average weight of 8 kg.
Silvery Gibbons live exclusively on the island of Java, where they inhabit deeply hidden portions of the rain forests. They are diurnal and arboreal, climbing trees skillfully and brachiatingthrough the forests. Like all gibbon species they live together in pairs and stake out a territory that they strongly defend. Their diet consists of fruits, leaves and flowers.
On average every three years the female, and after a seven month gestation, the female births a single young. The offspring is nursed for about 18 months and lives with the family group until it is fully mature at about 8 years.
Silvery Gibbons rank among the most threatened primates. Since the island of Java is very closely settled the natural range of the animals is pushed into ever smaller areas. One estimate says that there are no more than 2000 animals scattered among various reservations. Several zoos operate breeding programs, but the survival of this species is questionable.
Gibbons mate with only one female; the young, born singly, remain with the family group until they are five or six years old.
The silverygibbon, or wou-wou, of Java is ashy grey; the whitehanded gibbon, or lar, of the Malay Peninsula is distinguished by its white hands and feet and its musical howl.
The silverygibbon is classified as Hylobates moloch, the whitehanded gibbon as Hylobates lar.
High in the treetops of the scattered remains of the island of Java's rainforests, a silverygibbon female sings a morning song before she and her family move off to spend the day foraging for fruit.
Silverygibbons have small, stable territories of about 42 acres (17 ha) and the female will sing her song bout several times during the day to declare their territory.
Silverygibbons are not found in mangrove rainforest, or above 4,800 feet (1600 m) above sea level.
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