Müller's Bornean Gibbon
Encyclopedia
Müller's Bornean gibbon (Hylobates muelleri), also known as the grey gibbon, is a primate
in the Hylobatidae or gibbon
family.
Unlike other gibbon species, Müller's Bornean gibbon does not show sexual dimorphism in its fur coloration. Its fur is grey or brown colored with a ring of bright fur around its face. On the head it often has a darkly colored cap. With an average weight of 5.7 kg, it ranks among the smaller of the gibbons.
Müller's Bornean gibbon is endemic to the island of Borneo
, inhabiting the northern and eastern part of the island. In the southwest of the island lives the Bornean white-bearded gibbon
; their territories hardly overlap. Grey gibbons are diurnal
rain forest dwellers, characterized by the long arms that all gibbons have, with which they brachiate
through the trees. They live together in monogamous pairs, and defend their family territory against intruders with long, loud singing, which rings out above all else early in the morning. Their diet consists primarily of fruits. Little is known about the reproductive patterns of this species, but it is thought to be similar to that of other gibbon species.
Müller's Bornean gibbon occurs in a number of protected areas, including Betung Kerihun National Park
, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park
, Kayan Mentarang National Park
, Kutai National Park
, Sungai Wain Protection Forest and Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia and the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
and Semengok Forest Reserve in Malaysia.
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
in the Hylobatidae or gibbon
Gibbon
Gibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae . The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates , Hoolock , Nomascus , and Symphalangus . The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related...
family.
Unlike other gibbon species, Müller's Bornean gibbon does not show sexual dimorphism in its fur coloration. Its fur is grey or brown colored with a ring of bright fur around its face. On the head it often has a darkly colored cap. With an average weight of 5.7 kg, it ranks among the smaller of the gibbons.
Müller's Bornean gibbon is endemic to the island of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, inhabiting the northern and eastern part of the island. In the southwest of the island lives the Bornean white-bearded gibbon
Bornean white-bearded gibbon
The Bornean white-bearded Gibbon, , also known as the Bornean agile Gibbon or Southern Gibbon, is an endangered species of gibbon endemic to southern Borneo, between the Kapuas and Barito rivers....
; their territories hardly overlap. Grey gibbons are diurnal
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
rain forest dwellers, characterized by the long arms that all gibbons have, with which they brachiate
Brachiation
Brachiation is a form of arboreal locomotion in which primates swing from tree limb to tree limb using only their arms.- Brachiators :...
through the trees. They live together in monogamous pairs, and defend their family territory against intruders with long, loud singing, which rings out above all else early in the morning. Their diet consists primarily of fruits. Little is known about the reproductive patterns of this species, but it is thought to be similar to that of other gibbon species.
Müller's Bornean gibbon occurs in a number of protected areas, including Betung Kerihun National Park
Betung Kerihun National Park
Betung Kerihun National Park is a national park in the province of West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, Indonesia. It is located inland, along the Malaysian border...
, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park
Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park
Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park is a national park located on Borneo Island, Indonesia....
, Kayan Mentarang National Park
Kayan Mentarang National Park
Kayan Mentarang National Park is a densely forested national park in East Kalimantan province, Borneo Island, Indonesia. The national park is named after a great dispersed Mentarang mountain trails plateau of Apau Kayan which covers the entire park from Datadian area in south region to Apau Ping...
, Kutai National Park
Kutai National Park
Kutai National Park is a lowland national park located on the east coast of Borneo Island, in the East Kalimantan province of Indonesia, few minutes south of the equator.- Geography :...
, Sungai Wain Protection Forest and Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia and the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
The Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the island of Borneo, in Malaysia. It covers 1,870km², and is significant for orangutan conservation. Together with Batang Ai National Park these protected areas contain an estimated 1,400 orangutans...
and Semengok Forest Reserve in Malaysia.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies of this gibbon:- Müller's gray gibbon, Hylobates muelleri muelleri
- Abbott's gray gibbon, Hylobates muelleri abbotti
- Northern gray gibbon, Hylobates muelleri funereus
