Bornean white-bearded gibbon

The Weißbartgibbon (Hylobates albibarbis ) is a systematic controversial primate species from the family of Gibbons ( Hylobatidae ). He was either as subspecies of the Grey Gibbons or Black -handed gibbons, but viewed in more recent classifications as a separate species.

Features

In his appearance, the Weißbartgibbon similarities with the horror Gibbon, in particular with the southeastern subspecies H. m. muelleri. The basic color of the coat is light brown, the top of the head and the chest is dark brown or black. Also black are the hands and the feet. At the head of a white eyebrow stripe is present, the males exhibit the eponymous white hair on the cheeks, which may, however, occur in similar form in some black handed gibbons. With the slim body, long arms and the lack of tail white beard Gibbons have the typical physique of Gibbons.

Distribution and habitat

Whitebeard gibbons are found only on the island of Borneo, where they inhabit the southwestern parts. The northern and western parts of the island are inhabited by horror Gibbons, there are also small areas where both types meet, and there may be hybrid courses. Their habitat is tropical rainforests. The species is listed by the IUCN as endangered ( endangered ).

Way of life

Little is known about the way of life, she probably agrees with that of the other Gibbons match. Like these, they are likely to be diurnal and arboreal, the swinging hand over hand move around with the help of their long arms through the branches. They should live together in family groups and have a fixed territory to which they draw attention with their duet songs. The songs, a key differentiator within the Gibbons, are almost identical with those of the black -handed gibbons. The food of these animals is likely to consist mainly of fruits and besides from other parts of plants, and occasionally from small animals like all gibbons.

System

The systematic position of the Whitebeard Gibbons is controversial. From the coat color he is more like the Grey Gibbon, with which it can come to hybridization, but his singing is almost the same as the Black -handed gibbons. Accordingly, he was sometimes regarded as a subspecies of the Grey Gibbons performed ( Hylobates muelleri as albibarbis ), but mostly as a subspecies of the Black -handed gibbons ( Hylobates agilis as albibarbis ). In Mammal Species of the World (2005) by Don Wilson and DeeAnn Reeder, he is regarded as an independent species.