WHITE-HANDED GIBBON
Hylobates lar
DESCRIPTION
The White-Handed Gibbon, also known as Hylobates lar, is a small ape known for its long arms and distinctive white hands and feet. They are highly agile and spend most of their time in trees, using brachiation to move swiftly through the canopy.
FUN FACTS
- White-Handed Gibbons are known for their impressive vocal abilities, often singing duets with their partners | They can swing through trees at speeds of up to 56 km/h | These gibbons are highly intelligent and can use tools to obtain food
QUICK INFO
Lifespan25-30 years in the wild, up to 40 in captivity
Average Weight5-7 kg
Average Length50-70 cm
Diet TypeHerbivore
Social Structurepair, typically consisting of a male and female with their offspring
Activity PatternDiurnal
Breeding SeasonYear-round
- Habitat
- These gibbons inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, often preferring areas with dense foliage. They are arboreal and rarely descend to the ground.
- Biomes
- Tropical Rainforest
- Native Range
- They are native to Southeast Asia, particularly found in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
- Continent
- Asia
- Countries
- Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam
- Diet
- White-Handed Gibbons primarily eat fruits, leaves, and flowers. They are known to consume a variety of plant materials, making them important seed dispersers in their ecosystem.
- Diet Type
- Herbivore
- Favorite Food
- fruits, leaves
- Social Structure
- pair, typically consisting of a male and female with their offspring
- Activity Pattern
- Diurnal
- Group Size
- 2-5
- Territorial
- 1
5-7 kg
Weight
50-70 cm
Length
- Coloration
- They have a light brown or grayish body with distinctive white or cream-colored hands and feet.
- Sexual Dimorphism
- Males and females are similar in size, but males tend to have darker fur than females.
- Lifespan
- 25-30 years in the wild, up to 40 in captivity
- Gestation Period
- 210 days
- Offspring per Birth
- 1
- Sexual Maturity
- 4-5 years
- Breeding Season
- Year-round
EN
Endangered
IUCN Red List Status
- Population Status
- The population is currently declining due to habitat loss and hunting.
- Wild Population Estimate
- Less than 50,000
- Population Trend
- Decreasing
- Endangered
- 1
- Threats
- Main threats include deforestation and illegal hunting. Habitat destruction for agriculture and logging significantly impacts their populations.
- Defense Mechanisms
- They use loud calls to warn off potential threats and can be quite agile in escaping predators.
- Found in Zoos
- Common