Agile gibbon

Last updated

Agile gibbon [1]
Agilegibbon.jpg
Male at Bristol Zoo
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Female at Tobu Zoo
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [3]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Hylobatidae
Genus: Hylobates
Species:
H. agilis
Binomial name
Hylobates agilis
F. Cuvier, 1821
Agile Gibbon area.png
Agile gibbon range
Synonyms
  • albo griseusLudeking, 1862
  • albo nigrescensLudeking, 1862
  • raffleiÉ. Geoffroy, 1828
  • unkoLesson, 1829

Taxonomy

The species is generally thought not to have subspecies, but some experts recognise a mountain form and a lowland form. [2]

Description

The agile gibbon has fur varying in color from black to red-brown. The brow is white, and the male can be recognized by his white or light-grey cheeks. Additionally, the male is slightly larger than the female. The agile gibbon weighs from 4 to 6 kg (8.8 to 13.2 lb) with an average of 5 kg (11 lb), though in captivity it can reach 8 kg (18 lb). [5] [6] It has a head and body length of 44–63.5 cm (17.3–25.0 in). [6] Like all gibbons, it is tailless.

Behaviour

With its long arms they swing on branches, brachiating at a fast pace. Like all gibbons, it lives in monogamous pairs in a strict enforced territory, which is defended with vigorous visual displays and songs. [5] The diet of the agile gibbon is generally frugivorous but have also been observed eating leaves, flowers, and insects. [5]

Females give birth to a single offspring after seven months' gestation. The young gibbon is weaned at barely 2 years of age. When fully mature, at about 8 years, it leaves its family group in order to look for a mate. [5]

Distribution and habitat

The agile gibbon is found on Sumatra southeast of Lake Toba and the Singkil River, in a small area on the Malay Peninsula, and south Thailand near the Malaysian border. [2] It predominantly lives arboreally in rain forests and rarely comes to the ground.

References

  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). "Species Hylobates agilis". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 179. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 Geissmann, T.; Nijman, V.; Boonratana, R.; Brockelman, W.; Roos, C.; Nowak, M.G. (2020). "Hylobates agilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T10543A17967655. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T10543A17967655.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  4. Parks, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4 0 International Thai National. "Hylobates agilis, Agile gibbon". Thai National Parks. Retrieved 2024-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kuester, J. (2000). "Hylobates agilis". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Fact sheet: agile gibbon" (PDF). EAZA Ape Campaign. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.