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gibbon
gibbon small ape , genus Hyloblates, found in the forests of SE Asia. The gibbons, including the siamang, are known as the small, or lesser, apes; they are the most highly adapted of the apes to arboreal life. Gibbons are about 3 ft (90 cm) tall and weigh about 15 lb (6.4 kg). Their arms are extremely long in proportion to their body length, and they swing through the trees with great speed and agility, clearing gaps up to 20 ft (6 m) wide. On the ground they walk on two feet, holding their arms up awkwardly; they can also run on all fours. Members of most gibbon species have black faces surrounded by a white ruff; their fur ranges in color from black to buff. Some species, e.g., white-handed gibbon, have sexual dimorphism in coloration. Like Old World monkeys and unlike other apes, gibbons have callosities on their buttocks. Gibbons live in permanent families consisting of a male, a female, and their young; families occupy definite territories. They feed on fruits and other plant matter as well as insects and other small animals. Gibbons have powerful voices and at times engage in loud howling, which is answered by other gibbons in the vicinity. The largest gibbon is the siamang, sometimes classified in a separate genus, Symphalangus. Deep black, with a reddish brown face, the siamang may weigh up to 25 lb (11.3 kg). Siamangs are further distinguished by the presence in both sexes of a large vocal sac on the throat; this sac is inflated before the animal howls and probably functions to magnify the sound. Such a sac is also found in the male concolor gibbon ( Hyloblates concolor ). Siamangs are found in the high mountain forests of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. The gibbons are highly endangered because of habitat destruction. Gibbons are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Primates, family Pongidae. |
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"gibbon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gibbon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-gibbon.html "gibbon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-gibbon.html |
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Hylobatidae
Hylobatidae (lesser apes; suborder Haplorrhini, superfamily Hominoidea) A family of apes that includes gibbons and their relatives. They are small in size and specialized for brachiation with long legs, extremely long arms, and a hook-like hand. The canines are long and sharp in both sexes. Generally they are placed in one genus (Hylobates) with four subgenera: Hylobates (true gibbons), Bunopithecus (hoolock), Symphalangus (siamang), and Nomascus (concolors). Molecular evidence suggests, however, that these are nearly as distinct from each other as e.g. humans from chimpanzees. They are distributed throughout south-east Asia, from Assam to Java. There are about nine species.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Hylobatidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Hylobatidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Hylobatidae.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Hylobatidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Hylobatidae.html |
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gibbon
gib·bon / ˈgibən/ • n. a small, slender tree-dwelling ape with long powerful arms and loud hooting calls, native to the forests of Southeast Asia.See also white-handed gibbon. • Family Hylobatidae and genus Hylobates: several species. |
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"gibbon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gibbon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gibbon010.html "gibbon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gibbon010.html |
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gibbon
gibbon Ape, native to forests in se Asia. It has a shaggy brown, black or silvery coat and is very agile. It has long, powerful arms for swinging from branch to branch. Height: 41–66cm (16–26in). Family Pongidae, genus Hyloblates.
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"gibbon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gibbon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-gibbon.html "gibbon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-gibbon.html |
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gibbon
gibbon long-armed S.E. Asian ape. XVIII. — F. — native name.
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T. F. HOAD. "gibbon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "gibbon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gibbon.html T. F. HOAD. "gibbon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gibbon.html |
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gibbon
gibbon (Hylobates) See HYLOBATIDAE.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "gibbon." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "gibbon." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-gibbon.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "gibbon." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-gibbon.html |
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gibbon
gibbon
•Brian, cyan, Gaian, Geminian, Hawaiian, ion, iron, Ixion, lion, Lyon, Mayan, Narayan, O'Brien, Orion, Paraguayan, prion, Ryan, scion, Uruguayan, Zion
•andiron
•gridiron, midiron
•dandelion • anion • Bruneian
•cation, flatiron
•gowan, Palawan, rowen
•anthozoan, bryozoan, Goan, hydrozoan, Minoan, protozoan, protozoon, rowan, Samoan, spermatozoon
•Ohioan • Chicagoan • Virgoan
•Idahoan
•doyen, Illinoisan, Iroquoian
•Ewan, Labuan, McEwan, McLuhan, Siouan
•Saskatchewan • Papuan • Paduan
•Nicaraguan • gargantuan
•carbon, chlorofluorocarbon, graben, hydrocarbon, Laban, radiocarbon
•ebon • Melbourne • Theban
•gibbon, ribbon
•Brisbane, Lisbon
•Tyburn
•auburn, Bourbon
•Alban • Manitoban • Cuban
•stubborn
•Durban, exurban, suburban, turban, urban
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"gibbon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gibbon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gibbon.html "gibbon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gibbon.html |
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