On the ground, gibbons walk erect with the arms held aloft or behind. Phylogenet. Knowing that gibbon and orangutan ancestors existed in the same spot together in northern India 13 million years ago, and … To reach the common gibbon ancestor’s karyotype from today’s various living species of gibbons, it will require up to 28 additional rearrangements. Gibbon voices are loud, are musical in tone, and carry over long distances. E. J. Brill, Leiden, Holland. (2014, September 10). Western silvery gibbon or western Javan gibbon. This is an indication that these major differences in humans and gibbons could have had a common source of plasticity or change. Appearance. There are 18 different species of gibbons, and each species is different from the next. The great apes are better known in comparison and include the orangutans, chimpanzee, bonobo and gorillas. [7] The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related to the hoolock gibbons. They can also make leaps up to 8 m (26 ft), and walk bipedally with their arms raised for balance. They are part of the ape family and are classified as lesser apes because they are smaller than the great apes. Gibbons are small apes comprising 20 species, all of which are endemic to South and Southeast Asia. The karyotype of gibbons, however, diverged in a much more rapid fashion from the common hominoid ancestor than other apes. The vocal element, which can often be heard for distances up to 1 km (0.6 mi), consists of a duet between a mated pair, with their young sometimes joining in. Gibbons are small, slender, long-armed, tree-dwelling apes. In modern usage, however, yuán is a generic word for ape. [7] Adaptive divergence associated with chromosomal rearrangements led to rapid radiation of the four genera 5-7 Mya. Mol. Gibbons live in dense tropical forests, for example, in Sumatra, Thailand, and Malaysia. Gibbons are arboreal; they spend most of their lives in trees. [3] Like all apes, gibbons are tailless. … With a genome that has a 96% similarity to humans, the gibbon has a role as a bridge between Old World Monkeys like macaques and the great apes. [2][11] There is an extinct fifth genus named Bunopithecus which is either a gibbon or gibbon-like ape. Gibbons - the small, long-armed tree swingers that inhabit the dense tropical forests of Southeast Asia - have become the last of the planet's apes to have their genetic secrets revealed. Most gibbon species are about 40–65 cm (16–26 inches) in head and body length, but the siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) can grow up to 90 cm (35 inches). The unusually high number of structural changes in the DNA and chromosomal rearrangements could lead to problematic consequences in some species. The lars, a group of species classified in the genus Hylobates, are the smallest and have the densest body hair. They live across 11 countries including India, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia, mainly in tropical evergreen rainforests. They eat mostly fruit. Depending on the species and sex, gibbons' fur coloration varies from dark to light brown shades, and any shade between black and white, though a completely "white" gibbon is rare. The sexes look alike in the silvery gibbon (H. moloch) of Java and in the white-bearded (H. albibarbis) and Müller’s (H. muelleri) gibbons, both from different parts of Borneo. In addition to extra-pair copulations, pair-bonded gibbons occasionally "divorce. The siamang (S. syndactylus) inhabits the forests of Sumatra and Malaya. The great apes are much more intelligent than monkeys and gibbons. People more often confuse apes with monkeys but they are totally two different species. Apes are way larger than monkeys and unlike monkeys they do not have tails. Humans are apes, apes describe several different species including humans(Usually this group are called the Great Apes (Hominidae). With 12 species, the gibbons comprise the largestgroup of the apes. The smaller species (both sexes) weigh about 5.5 kg (12 pounds); others, such the concolor gibbon, weigh about 7.5 kg (17 pounds). Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. apes (Hominoidea). Unlike great apes, gibbons do not build nests. The family historically contained one genus, but now is split into four extant genera and 18 species. Gibbons make up the “lesser apes” group, the largest group of all the apes. The various species of gibbons can be divided into four genera: Hoolock, Hylobates, Nomascus, and Symphalangus. [23], Gibbons often retain the same mate for life, although they do not always remain sexually monogamous. They feed mainly on fruit, with varying proportions of leaves and with some insects and bird eggs as well as young birds. 1 fossil of a different genus dating from the Pleistocene. "Due to a lack of research, we don't know for sure if the small apes; gibbons and siamangs can catch diseases like COVID-19 from humans. Gibbons were the first apes to diverge from the common ancestor of humans and apes about 16.8 million years ago. Because they are so dextrous while moving in the trees, almost no predators can catch them. They have lighter bodies and smaller social groups than great apes. [29], These crucial findings in genetics have contributed to the use of gibbons as a genetic model for chromosome breakage and fusion, which is a type of translocation mutation. They are active during the day and live in small monogamous groups that defend territories in the treetops. This may have led to the development of a suite of physical characteristics, distinct from their great ape relatives, to adapt to their habitat of dense, canopy forest. Baylor College of Medicine. They occur in tropical and subtropical rainforests from northeast India to Indonesia and north to southern China, including the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java. Omissions? Thus, gibbons are organisms that genetics research could be focused on to broaden the implications to human diseases related to chromosomal changes like cancer, such as chronic myeloid leukemia. The family Hylobatidae, the lesser apes, include four genera and a total of sixteen species of gibbon, including the lar gibbon and the siamang, all native to Asia. Eastern silvery gibbon or central Javan gibbon, This page was last edited on 7 December 2020, at 16:46. One of them is TBX5, which is a gene that is required for the development of the front extremities or forelimbs such as long arms. The animals are best known for their loud, penetrating calls and their ability to swing athletically from one tree branch to another. Gibbons are arboreal and move from branch to branch with speed and great agility by swinging from their arms (brachiating). Gibbon (surname))[5] originally from an Orang Asli word. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Family Hominidae (great apes and humans) 4 genera, 7 African and Eurasian species until human expansion since the Late Pleistocene.…, …is an adaptation seen in gibbons. "The gibbon in China. [35] The Kalaweit Project also has gibbon rehabilitation centers on Borneo and Sumatra. A Gibbon is often described as a Monkey but most classify them as Apes. More specifically, they are classified as small apes, because (you guessed it) they are smaller than the great apes — gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and humans. Because they are so agile while moving in the trees, almost no predators can catch them. Gibbons and Siamangs live in Asia. No, gibbons are apes. They are strongly territorial, and defend their boundaries with vigorous visual and vocal displays. The most characteristic vocalization is the “great call,” usually a duet in which the female leads and the male joins in with less-complex notes, used as a territorial marker by both sexes. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/gibbon-primate, gibbon - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), gibbon - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Single offspring are born after about seven months’ gestation and take seven years to mature. [19], Gibbon skulls and teeth resemble those of the great apes, and their noses are similar to those of all catarrhine primates. Gibbons live in subtropical and tropical rainforest from eastern Bangladesh to Northeast India to southern China and Indonesia (including the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java). Gibbons also have long hands and feet, with a deep cleft between the first and second digits of their hands. Gibbons are not monkeys. Gibbons are rare, small, slender, long-armed, tree-dwelling apes. The LAVA transposon increases mutation rate and thus is supposed to have contributed to the rapid and greater change in Gibbons in comparison to their close relatives, which is critical for evolutionary development. They are known for their ability to swing from one tree to another with great agility and swiftness. Evol. Gibbons are intelligent and social animals. Their primary mode of locomotion, brachiation, involves swinging from branch to branch for distances up to 15 m (50 ft), at speeds as high as 55 km/h (34 mph). [22] The song can be used to identify not only which species of gibbon is singing, but also the area from which it comes. The other is COL1A1, which is responsible for the development of collagen, a protein that is directly involved with the forming of connective tissues as well as bone and cartilage development. Gibbons are small apes found throughout Southeast Asia. [13], Many gibbons are hard to identify based on fur coloration, so are identified either by song or genetics. [18] However, no records exist of fertile hybrids between different gibbon genera, either in the wild or in captivity. Western Hoolock gibbons, also known as white-browed gibbons, are the only apes that live in the Indian sub-continent. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Interspecific hybrids, hybrids within a genus, are also suspected to occur in wild gibbons where their ranges overlap. Test your knowledge of mammals by taking this quiz. Tarsiers are highly arboreal primates that have expanded pads on the digits to improve grasping, whereas many other arboreal mammals have claws or well-developed nails.…. Also called the lesser apes or small apes, gibbons differ from great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and humans) in being smaller, exhibiting low sexual dimorphism, and not making nests.

They have a body that is designed for speed and movement. Some of the more pronounced differences include having longer arms, dense hair, and a throat sac used for amplifying sound. [29] This gene is thought to have a role in gibbons having stronger muscles. Early Chinese writers viewed the "noble" gibbons, gracefully moving high in the treetops, as the "gentlemen" (jūnzǐ, 君子) of the forest, in contrast to the greedy macaques, attracted by human food. Gibbons, like the great apes (gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos), have a humanlike build and no tail, but gibbons seem to lack higher cognitive abilities and self-awareness. An essay in Chinese animal lore." Lesser Apes, containing the gibbons; Great Apes, containing the orang-utans, gorillas, chimpanzees and humans; Ape features. Gibbon, (family Hylobatidae), any of approximately 20 species of small apes found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. (that is, the orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees) all being placed in a separate family, the Pongidae. Gorillas are the largest apes. The hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is found from Myanmar west of the Salween River into Assam, India, and Bangladesh. There are four genera of gibbons. They are much smaller than great apes and they spend almost all their time in trees. [29], In addition, there are characteristic genes in the gibbon genome which had gone through a positive selection and are suggested to give rise to specific anatomical features for gibbons to adapt to their new environment. The dark-handed gibbon (H. agilis), which lives on Sumatra south of Lake Toba and on the Malay Peninsula between the Perak and Mudah rivers, may be either tan or black and has white facial markings. The meaning of the taxon Hominidae changed gradually, leading to a modern usage of "hominid" that includes all the great apes including humans. [31] Gibbons, however, not only seemed to be free from problems but let the change help them effectively adapt to their environment. They are the fastest and most agile of all tree-dwelling, nonflying mammals.[4]. They are found only in the Indo-Malayan region, extending from India and China, down through mainland Southeast Asia and into Indonesia. Gibbons are referred to as small apes along with their siamang cousins. [7][8] An analysis based on morphology suggests that the four genera are ordered as (Symphalangus, (Nomascus, (Hoolock, Hylobates)))[9], A coalescent-based species tree analysis of genome-scale datasets suggests a phylogeny for the four genera ordered as (Hylobates, (Nomascus, (Hoolock, Symphalangus))). The classification of the great apes has been revised several times in the last few decades; these revisions have led to a varied use of the word "hominid" over time. The very high rate of chromosomal disorder and rearrangements (such as duplications, deletions or inversions of large stretches of DNA) due to the moving of this large DNA segment is one of the key features that are unique to the gibbon genome. Gibbons are monogamous (a rare trait among primates) and live in family groups consisting of an adult pair and their young offspring. [6], Whole genome molecular dating analyses indicate that the gibbon lineage diverged from that of great apes around 16.8 million years ago (Mya) (95% confidence interval: 15.9 – 17.6 Mya; given a divergence of 29 Mya from Old World monkeys). Adult males are black and females are brown, with colour changes similar to those seen in the concolor group. Zookeepers teach people about gibbons, and how we should be conserving their natural habitat. The smallest of the apes, gibbons are often referred to as ‘lesser apes’. [39], The sinologist Robert van Gulik concluded gibbons were widespread in central and southern China until at least the Song dynasty, and furthermore, based on an analysis of references to primates in Chinese poetry and other literature and their portrayal in Chinese paintings, the Chinese word yuán (猿) referred specifically to gibbons until they were extirpated throughout most of the country due to habitat destruction (circa 14th century). Ms Williams said COVID-19 might be one of the diseases gibbons could be susceptible to. (2014, September 10). Do gibbons have tails? Both sexes have a large throat sac, and their vocal repertoire includes a very harsh shrieking and booming call. Kloss’s gibbon (H. klossii), from the Mentawai Islands west of Sumatra, is completely black throughout its life. The difference in colour comes about with age; the juveniles are buff and both sexes darken with age, but the male does so much more rapidly. This greatly reduces the amount of energy needed in the upper arm and torso, while also reducing stress on the shoulder joint. The family historically contained one genus, but now is split into four extant genera and 18 species. Gibbon, (family Hylobatidae), any of approximately 20 species of small apes found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. All species live east of the Mekong River. No common specific sequence element in the independent rearrangements was found while 46% of the gibbon-human synteny breakpoints occur in segmental duplication regions. They are smaller than Apes and they don’t have the size differences. The dental formula is 2.1.2.32.1.2.3 [20] The siamang, which is the largest of the 18 species, is distinguished by having two fingers on each foot stuck together, hence the generic and species names Symphalangus and syndactylus. Updates? The common ancestor of hominoids is shown to have a minimum of 24 major chromosomal rearrangements from the presumed gibbon ancestor’s karyotype. Retrieved April 7, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140910132518.htm. But disease transmission from and to humans is well-documented in the great apes like gorillas and chimpanzees," she said. Monkeys. They live in forests, and are able to swing from tree to tree at incredible speeds. How many cervical vertebrae do giraffes have? The Taoists ascribed occult properties to gibbons, believing them to be able to live for several hundred years and to turn into humans. [32][33], Most species are either endangered or critically endangered (the sole exception being H. leuconedys, which is vulnerable), primarily due to degradation or loss of their forest habitats. Gibbons are the small apes that are grouped in the family Hylobatidae.The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates (44), Hoolock (38), Nomascus (52), and Symphalangus (50). Nonetheless, their mode of transportation can lead to hazards when a branch breaks or a hand slips, and researchers estimate that the majority of gibbons suffer bone fractures one or more times during their lifetimes.

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