Hainan gibbon
The Hainan black-crested gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is a Critically Endangered species of gibbon. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Eastern black crested gibbon from Hòa Bình and Cao Bằng provinces of Vietnam and Jingxi County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
Fr
FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
He
HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
Ar
ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
Zo
ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
Is
Island endemicIsland endemic animals are found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island. Animals or organisms that are indigenous to a place ar...
Sc
ScansorialScansorial animals are those that are adapted to or specialized for climbing. Many animals climb not only in tress but also in other habitats, such...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Br
BrowsingBrowsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growi...
Po
PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
So
SocialNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
H
starts withThe males of this species are all almost completely black, with sometimes white or buff cheeks. Females, conversely, are a golden or buff color with black patches, including a streak of black on the head. Both males and females are slender, with long arms and legs and no tail. The arms are used to swing from tree to tree, which is known as brachiation.
These gibbons are found only on Hainan Island, China where they inhabit broad-leaved forests and semi-deciduous monsoon forests.
Hainan black-crested gibbons live in small families which typically consist of one breeding male, two mature females, and their offspring. These gibbons are arboreal meaning they lie in trees. They move using a form of locomotion that is called brachiation or arm swinging; it is a form of locomotion in which gibbons swing from tree limb to tree limb using only their arms. During brachiation, the body is alternately supported under each forelimb. Gibbons use brachiation for as much as 80% of their locomotor activities. They are the fastest of all tree-dwelling, nonflying mammals. Gibbons can also make leaps and walk bipedally with their arms raised for balance. Hainan black-crested gibbons are active during the day spending their time foraging, grooming, playing, and socializing. They are vocal and their loud song can be heard at long distances; it is typically performed between a mated pair, with their young sometimes joining in.
Hainan black-crested gibbons primarily have a herbivorous (frugivorous) diet. They feed on ripe, sugar-rich fruit, such as figs, and sometimes will also eat leaves and insects.
Hainan black-crested gibbons have a polygynous mating system in which one male mates with more than one female. Their two-year interbirth interval is shorter than that of most gibbon species and coincides with the blooming patterns of fruits on the Hainan Islands. The gestation period lasts for 20-24 weeks and each female gives birth to a single infant. The young depend on their mother for about 1.5 years of their lives and will remain within a group for some time after this.
Hainan black-crested gibbons are under grave threat of extinction. Habitat loss is the primary cause of the decline of these primates; poaching has also been a problem. Over 25% of the Hainan gibbon’s habitat has been reduced due to illegal pulp paper plantation growers. Originally denizens of lowland forest, logging has driven them to less suitable habitat at higher altitudes. The species is currently vulnerable to being eliminated by a single major storm or epidemic.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Hainan black crested gibbon is more than 25 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are stable.
The Hainan black-crested gibbon is considered an umbrella species for the Hainan Island. This designation indicates that the status of the Hainan gibbon is a marker for the health and stability of its ecosystem. They are important seed dispersers of several plant species, most notably figs. Therefore, the destruction of the natural vegetation on Hainan Island, coupled with the dwindling gibbon population bodes ill for the recovery of native plant species.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...