Female at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Like other gibbons, the white-handed or the lar gibbon (Hylobates lar) is an expert at traveling in the trees. Arms that are longer than its legs allow the gibbon to cover a great distance—nearly 10 feet—with each pendulum swing of its body. Forward-facing eyes provide it with the binocular vision and depth perception necessary to determine a safe route.
Facts[]
- Pronunciation: GIB-un
- Where to see them: Soytheast Asia
- Weight: 10 to 17 lbs
- Lifespan: 30 yrs
- Habitat: Tropical forest
- Diet: Fruits, leaves, insects, and flowers
- Risk Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Lower risk/near threatened)