It belongs to the Pongidae family of Primates order. Its scientific name is Hylobates lar (Latin), or White-handed Gibbon, Common Gibbon, or Lar Gibbon (English).
Weighing 5 to 7 kilograms, its body length varies from 42 to 64 centimeters, and its hinder limbs are 10 to 15 centimeters long. It is tailless. Both male and female monkeys have two types, the blackish brown type, and the brownish yellow type. The body is covered with dense, long, and fluffy hair. Its hands and feet are white, with a white hair ring round the face.
It inhabits on trees in tropical rain forests, fond of climbing and jumping among the trees and able to walk on the ground on two feet. With two agile arms, it swings from tree to tree, with the longest distance of 5 meters of each swing. When running, its four limbs are used spontaneously. It moves about in daytime and sleeps on the trees at night, generally forming groups of 4 to 6 family members, including a couple of adults and several offspring. It feeds on burgeons, buds, leaves, fruits, insects, and bird eggs. The female has its pregnant period of 7 to 7.5 months, delivering a baby monkey every 2 to 2.5 years. The lactation period lasts for as long as 20 months. Under breeding condition, its lifespan is usually 32 years.
Distributed in southwestern Yunnan Province of China, the number of existing White-handed Gibbon is small, with about 30 to 40 heads. In order to protect such rare species, China has established a natural protection area near the Nangun River.
White-handed Gibbon has beenlisted in Appendix I ofInternational Trade Convention on Endangered Wild Animal and Plant Species.
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