White-Cheeked Gibbon

They are known by other names such as Hylobates (Normascus) leucgenys or Hylobates concolor or small or lesser ape. Their four genera’s are differentiated by the number of their chromosomes. They are…

The White-Cheeked Gibbon!

White-Face Gibbon

FACTS:

• They belong to the family of Hylobatidae, class of Mammalia, order of Primata, genus of Hylobates and species of concolor.
• They are also called the crested Gibbon or Black Gibbon, but are a subspecies of.
• They are the smallest of the ape family that includes, gorillas, chimpanzees and  Orangutans.
• They are found in the primary, secondary and mature forests canopies of Northern Laos, Northwestern Vietnam and China with an estimated population of about 100.
• They live in a difficult habitat terrain, are shy when it comes to people plus they have a strictly arboreal lifestyle. So ecological studies on their behavior are few.
• They are strongly territorial and a social critter.
• Both male and females are about the same in size. They are about 18-25 inches in length and weigh 12.8 pounds for the males.
• Their circulatory system is the same as humans.

Males have coarse black fur and black skin with white fur on their cheeks and pronounced crests of hair on the crowns of their heads while females are golden or reddish buff-colored with black faces and dark brown or black fur on top of their heads, but no crown crests. Females do not have the characteristic white cheek fur but do have white fur in a halo around their faces. [A]

• They have very long legs and arms which they use for balance. They have opposable thumbs that they use for climbing and grooming.
• They have bi cheek pouches.
• They have extremely dense fur that protects them from the rain,
• They are efficient fast travelers and can move vertically in one swing up to 50 feet and horizontally 40 feet.
• They have very accurate eyesight.
• They are the most active of all the Gibbons but can not swing (arm over arm) nor can they swim so they avoid crossing open water.
• They eat leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, bamboo tips, shoots, some insects; bird eggs an young birds and fruit such as mango berries, figs and grapes which are a largest part of their diet. Sometimes they will even eat tree frogs.
• In captivity they will eat bananas, apples seeds of sorts and monkey chow.
• They live in small a group that is centered around the male and its mates. Defending their territory by treat display and song.
• At night they sleep sitting up.
• The White-Cheeked are the only Gibbon this is not strictly monogamous.
• They reach maturity at 5-7 years of age.
• They have a gestation of 210-240 days and give birth to one baby every 2-3 years.
• Their young are born hairless, with open eyes and rely on Mom for warmth. They are a light in color when they are born and turn black after 6 months. With the females turning light again after they reach adolescence.
• The young will stay with their parents until they are chased off by them, this happens when the young are past the adolescence age.
• Most of their species are endangered or threatened because of loss of their forest habitat, like so many other wild critters.
• Predators in the wild are clouded Leopards and man due to the black market and destruction of habitat. They are also eaten by bigger apes and monkeys.
• They have a lifespan of 25-28 years in the wild.

SOURCES:

http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/white-cheeked_gibbon

http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/White-cheeked_Gibbon.asp

http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/animals/animals/primates/white-cheeked-gibbon.html

Other sites to visit:

http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/animals/animals/primates/white-cheeked-gibbon.html

https://secure.worldwildlife.org/ogc/ogcAC_speciesDetail.cfm?gid=70

http://www.tenan.vuurwerk.nl/reports/nevis/gibbon.htm

http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/white-cheeked_gibbon/behav

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[A] http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/white-cheeked_gibbon