Gibbon is the smallest of the apes. It also ranges over a wider area than the other members of the ape family—the bonobo, chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan. The gibbon lives in the forests of the Indian state of Assam, and in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. There are several species of gibbons. All have long arms and legs, but no tail. A gibbon weighs about 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and stands about 3 feet (91 centimeters) high. It ranges from black to pale brown.
Gibbons live in the tops of trees and rarely come to the ground. They eat fruits and leaves. Gibbons use their arms to swing from branch to branch. They also walk on top of tree branches using only their legs. This way of walking is similar to the way human beings walk on the ground. Gibbons live in family groups that usually consist of a male, a female, and one or two of their young. A gibbon family claims an area called a territory and uses loud calls and songs to warn other families to stay away. |