There are 5 subspecies of white-handed gibbons. Their hands and feet are white or pale white, hence the name white-handed gibbons.
The population of white-handed gibbons generally consists of 5-8 members in a family, including one adult male and one adult female, and the rest are semi-adult and young gibbons, with an adult male as the leader. Gibbons have a relatively long maturity period, and family relationships are not only stable, but also harmonious and friendly. Family members are generally very harmonious, caring for each other and defending each other.
The habits of the white-handed gibbon are similar to those of the black gibbon. They live a family life with male and female spouses and are territorial. The territory of each group is about 54 hectares, but they only forage within an area of 1.5 square kilometers in a day. During the day, they use their arms to climb branches and swing and jump on trees 20-30 meters high in the forest, using both their front and back limbs at high speed. Due to the high characteristics of this movement, they often change the direction of their chest and arms. Long-term evolutionary adaptation has made the sides of their shoulders flat, instead of being wider like monkeys. Their elbows are longer and can rotate 360 degrees in all directions. They can move forward and backward quickly, and their feet only play the role of assisting pedaling. They have keen hearing and smell, are timid, and afraid of cold.
Calling is the main way for members of the white-handed gibbon group to communicate. Every morning, males and females cry in chorus, or in a rhythmic, or sad and low voice, or make intervals similar to blowing bubbles. The male's call is sandwiched between the female's call, and at the end of the call, a tail sound is added.
Listed in the 2008 Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) ver 3.1-Endangered (EN).
Listed in the CITES Appendix I protected animals of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of the United Nations.
Listed in the first level of the List of Key Protected Wildlife in China.
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