Lar Gibbonシロテテナガザル

Species Data

Classification

Primates / Hylobatidae Source

Distribution

The white-handed (lar) gibbon inhabits tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand, though its range has contracted significantly and it is likely extinct in China. Source

Did You Know?

• Its white hands and feet, along with a ring of white fur around its black face, give the species its common name, and it moves through the forest canopy by swinging arm over arm, a locomotion called brachiation. Source
• It forms monogamous pair bonds that typically last a lifetime, and mated pairs perform coordinated duet vocalizations to defend their territory. Source
• Recent research shows the species has a more flexible social structure than once believed, including extra-pair mating and occasional polyandrous groupings. Source

FAQ

Why is it called the white-handed gibbon?

It is named for its white-colored hands and feet, along with a ring of white fur that frames its black face. Source

Do white-handed gibbons mate for life?

They typically form monogamous pair bonds that last a lifetime, and mated pairs sing coordinated duet calls to defend their territory. Source

Why are white-handed gibbons endangered?

Deforestation driven by agriculture and palm oil plantations has significantly shrunk their rainforest habitat, and the species is now likely extinct in parts of its former range, such as China. Source