White-handed gibbon

Hylobates lar

Mammalia · Primates · Hylobatidae

Fig. 1. White-handed gibbon

Fig. 2. Range

Length or height	Body length about 42-58 cm
Weight	About 4-7 kg
Food	Fruit, leaves, insects
Lifespan	About 30-40 years
Society	Pairs with their young; families sing duets
Habitat	tropical rainforest
Range	Asia
Wild or tame	Wild

A lesser ape. Gibbons swing arm over arm (brachiation) at up to 55 km/h.

Observe: Listen for the morning duet and watch the swing: hands only, body hanging.

Modern data

Status today

ENEndangered status to verify

Conservation	Endangered by forest loss and the pet trade.
Keeper's note	Gibbon homes have ropes and high branches so they can swing, and are open so their songs carry.
Kingdom · phylum	Animalia · Chordata
Genus	Hylobates

Check the record: IUCN Red List · GBIF · ITIS

See it elsewhere in the museum

For classes

Lessons: The Primate Learning Lab: Open the field notebookPreviewThe Primate Learning Lab: Watch one primatePreviewThe Primate Learning Lab: The stick in the termite moundPreview

Drawer: Zoo: Primates

Quiz: Primates quiz · 5 questions