Hylobates Explained

The genus Hylobates is one of the four genera of gibbons. Its name means "forest walker", from the Greek (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [[wikt:ὕλη|ὕλη]], "forest") and (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: βάτης, "one who treads").^{[1] [2]}

It was once considered the only genus, but recently its subgenera (Hoolock [formerly ''Bunopithecus''], Nomascus, and Symphalangus) have been elevated to the genus level.^[3] Hylobates remains the most species-rich and widespread of gibbon genera, ranging from southern China (Yunnan) to western and central Java.

Individuals within this genus are characterized by 44 chromosomes and often have a ring of white fur around their faces.

Classification

• Family Hylobatidae: gibbons
  • Genus Hylobates
    • Lar gibbon or white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar
      • Malaysian lar gibbon, Hylobates lar lar
      • Carpenter's lar gibbon, Hylobates lar carpenteri
      • Central lar gibbon, Hylobates lar entelloides
      • Sumatran lar gibbon, Hylobates lar vestitus
      • Yunnan lar gibbon, Hylobates lar yunnanensis
    • Bornean white-bearded gibbon, Hylobates albibarbis
    • Agile gibbon or black-handed gibbon, Hylobates agilis
    • Western grey gibbon or Abbott's grey gibbon, Hylobates abbotti
    • Eastern grey gibbon or northern grey gibbon, Hylobates funereus
    • Müller's gibbon or southern grey gibbon, Hylobates muelleri
    • Silvery gibbon, Hylobates moloch
      • Western silvery gibbon or western Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch moloch
      • Eastern silvery gibbon or central Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch pongoalsoni
    • Pileated gibbon or capped gibbon, Hylobates pileatus
    • Kloss's gibbon or Mentawai gibbon, bilou or dwarf siamang, Hylobates klossii
  • Genus Hoolock
  • Genus Symphalangus
  • Genus Nomascus

Hybrids

Hybrids between Müller's gibbon (H. muelleri) and the Bornean white-bearded gibbon, (H. albibarbis) have been reported in areas of Borneo.^[4] A gibbon born at the Kujukushima Zoo in Japan to a female lar or white-handed gibbon (H. lar) was determined to have been fathered by a male agile gibbon (H. agilis).^[5]

External links

• Primate Info Net Hylobates Factsheets

Notes and References

1. "one that treads or covers"

2. Book: Craig, John. A new universal etymological technological, and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. 1848. 962.
3. Mootnick . A. . Groves . C. P. . 2005 . A new generic name for the hoolock gibbon (Hylobatidae) . International Journal of Primatology . 4 . 971–976 . 10.1007/s10764-005-5332-4 . 26. 8394136 .
4. Book: A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Payne, J. . Francis, C.. 2005. 967-99947-1-6. 230. Sabah Society. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
5. News: Watanuki . Hiroshi . 31 January 2023 . Mystery solved: Father of gibbon at Nagasaki Pref. zoo identified through DNA analysis . 10 February 2023 . The Mainichi.