Agile gibbon

The agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis), also known as the black-handed gibbon, is an Old World primate in the gibbon family. It is found in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra, Malaysia, and southern Thailand. The species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction and the pet trade.

This article is about the agile gibbon endemic to Sumatra and the Malaysian peninsula. For the Bornean agile gibbon, see Bornean white-bearded gibbon.

Agile gibbon[1]
A male agile gibbon
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[3]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Hylobatidae
Genus: Hylobates
Species:
H. agilis
Binomial name
Hylobates agilis
F. Cuvier, 1821
Agile gibbon range
Synonyms
  • albo griseus Ludeking, 1862
  • albo nigrescens Ludeking, 1862
  • rafflei É. Geoffroy, 1828
  • unko Lesson, 1829

Taxonomy

The species is generally thought not to have subspecies, but some experts recognise a mountain form and a lowland form.[2]

  • Mountain agile gibbon, Hylobates agilis agilis
  • Lowland agile gibbon, Hylobates agilis unko

Description

The agile gibbon has fur varying in color from black to red-brown. The brow is white, and the male can be recognized by his white or light-grey cheeks. Additionally, the male is slightly larger than the female. The agile gibbon weighs from 4 to 6 kg (8.8 to 13.2 lb) with an average of 5 kg (11 lb), though in captivity it can reach 8 kg (18 lb).[4][5] It has a head and body length of 44–63.5 cm (17.3–25.0 in).[5] Like all gibbons it is tailless.

Behaviour

With its long arms they swing on branches, brachiating at a fast pace. Like all gibbons, it lives in monogamous pairs in a strictly enforced territory, which is defended with vigorous visual displays and songs.[4] The diet of the agile gibbon is generally frugivorous but have also been observed eating leaves, flowers, and insects.[4]

Females give birth to a single offspring after seven months' gestation. The young gibbon is weaned at barely 2 years of age. When fully mature, at about 8 years, it leaves its family group in order to look for a mate.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The agile gibbon is found on Sumatra southeast of Lake Toba and the Singkil River, in a small area on the Malay Peninsula, and south Thailand near the Malaysian border.[2] It predominantly lives arboreally in rain forests and rarely comes to the ground.

References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). "Species Hylobates agilis". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 179. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Geissmann, T.; Nijman, V.; Boonratana, R.; Brockelman, W.; Roos, C.; Nowak, M.G. (2020). "Hylobates agilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T10543A17967655. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T10543A17967655.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  4. Kuester, J. (2000). "Hylobates agilis". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  5. "Fact sheet: agile gibbon" (PDF). EAZA Ape Campaign. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
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