Lar Gibbon

About Lar Gibbon

• The Lar gibbon, or the White-handed Gibbon, is one of the most well-known gibbon species in Malaysia.
• Scientific name: Its scientific name is Hylobates lar. 
• Family: It is primate in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae.
• Habitat: It is found in dipterocarp, submontane, lowland, mixed deciduous, and bamboo forests.
• Distribution: It is found in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
• Characteristics:
  • Appearance: The fur coloring of the lar gibbon varies from black and dark-brown to light-brown, sandy colors.
    • The hands and feet are white-colored. It get their name from the white-coloured hair that covers their hands and feet.
    • The adults have a ring of white hair around their hairless faces.
    • Both males and females can have fur colouring varying from creamy to brown or black.
• Behaviour: It spends most of its life above the ground. Hence, it is equipped with super-long arms and hooked hands.
  • This helps the gibbon to swing effortlessly and fluidly between branches in search of food, especially figs.
  • It also loves vocalising and communicate using songs, performed solo or as a couple.
• Diet: It feeds upon Fruits, leaves, flowers, and insects.
• Threats:
  • Habitat loss and fragmentation
  • Forest clearance for livestock grazing, agriculture, new settlements, monoculture plantations, roads, and illegal pet trade
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN: Endangered