The black gibbon is a small arboreal ape weighing about 8 kg (18 lb). It prefers subtropical and montane evergreen forests and eats mainly leaf buds, shoots, and fruits. Gibbons are mainly diurnal.
A single young is usually born to a mature female black gibbon every 2 - 3 years. The black gibbon is the only polygynous gibbon species. Other gibbons are monogamous. The average size of black gibbon troops is about half a dozen individuals, which includes one adult male, one or more adult females and several young gibbons of various ages.
The black gibbon was once widespread in forests throughout southern China and Vietnam and into Laos and Cambodia. In 1990 the only area where black gibbon populations were reported to be healthy was in Yunnan Province, China, with other populations in Laos and Vietnam having uncertain status . In 2000 it was believed to occur in China, Laos and Vietnam. The black gibbon is threatened by loss of its preferred primary forest habitat, as well as by hunting for food and Oriental medicine. Extensive military activities within its range probably also had a detrimental effect.
Threats and Reasons for Decline:
A single young is usually born to a mature female black gibbon every 2 - 3 years. The black gibbon is the only polygynous gibbon species. Other gibbons are monogamous. The average size of black gibbon troops is about half a dozen individuals, which includes one adult male, one or more adult females and several young gibbons of various ages.
The black gibbon was once widespread in forests throughout southern China and Vietnam and into Laos and Cambodia. In 1990 the only area where black gibbon populations were reported to be healthy was in Yunnan Province, China, with other populations in Laos and Vietnam having uncertain status . In 2000 it was believed to occur in China, Laos and Vietnam. The black gibbon is threatened by loss of its preferred primary forest habitat, as well as by hunting for food and Oriental medicine. Extensive military activities within its range probably also had a detrimental effect.
Threats and Reasons for Decline:
The black gibbon is threatened by loss of its preferred primary forest habitat, as well as hunting for food and Oriental medicine. Extensive military activities within its range probably also had a detrimental effect.
Data on Biology and Ecology
Weight:
The black gibbon weighs about 8 kg (6.9 - 10 kg) (18 lb (15.2 - 22 lb)). Its head and body length is about 50 cm (43 - 54 cm) (20" (17 - 21").
Habitat:
The black gibbon prefers subtropical and montane evergreen forests.
The black gibbon is one of the species that live in both the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and the Northern Indochina Subtropical Moist Forests, Annamite Range Moist Forests, and Eastern Indochina Dry & Monsoon Forests Global 200 Ecoregions.
Gestation Period:
7 - 8 months.
Birth Rate:
A single young is usually born. The time between birth is usually 2 - 3 years.
Diet:
The black gibbon eats mainly leaf buds, shoots, and fruits, but rarely animals .
Behavior:
All gibbons are strictly arboreal and mainly diurnal.
Social Organization:
The black gibbon lives in groups - usually a female, a male and their young . It is the only polygynous gibbon species. All others are monogamous .
Group size:
- Average group size was 7 - 8 comprised of 1 adult male, 1 - 4 adult females and offspring of various ages .
- One study reported a median group size of 5 (10 groups)
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