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.

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.

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.

gibbon (Hylobates) See HYLOBATIDAE.

gibbon long-armed S.E. Asian ape. XVIII. — F. — native name.