Nomascus
Encyclopedia
Nomascus is the second most speciose genus
of gibbon
s (family Hylobatidae). Originally this genus was a subgenus of Hylobates, and all individuals were considered one species, Hylobates concolor. Species within Nomascus are characterized by 52 chromosomes. Some species are all black, some light with a distinct black tuft of crown fur, and some by distinct, light-colored cheek patches. Nomascus is found from southern China (Yunnan
) to southern Vietnam
, and also on Hainan Island. One of the genus' species, Nomascus nasutus, has been deemed "the most critically endangered ape species in the world". All of the species in this genus are endangered or critically endangered.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 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...
s (family Hylobatidae). Originally this genus was a subgenus of Hylobates, and all individuals were considered one species, Hylobates concolor. Species within Nomascus are characterized by 52 chromosomes. Some species are all black, some light with a distinct black tuft of crown fur, and some by distinct, light-colored cheek patches. Nomascus is found from southern China (Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
) to southern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and also on Hainan Island. One of the genus' species, Nomascus nasutus, has been deemed "the most critically endangered ape species in the world". All of the species in this genus are endangered or critically endangered.
Classification
- Family Hylobatidae: gibbons
- Genus HylobatesHylobatesThe genus Hylobates is one of the four genera of gibbons. It was once considered the only genus, but recently its subgenera have been elevated to the genus level. Hylobates remains the most speciose and widespread of gibbon genera, ranging from southern China to western and central Java...
- Genus Hoolock
- Genus Symphalangus
- Genus Nomascus
- Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus concolor
- Tonkin Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus concolor concolor
- Laotian Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus concolor lu
- Central Yunnan Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus concolor jingdongensis
- West Yunnan Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus concolor furvogaster
- Eastern Black Crested GibbonEastern Black Crested GibbonThe eastern black crested gibbon is a species of gibbon that was once widespread in China and Vietnam. There are two subspecies....
, Nomascus nasutus- Hainan Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus nasutus hainanus
- Cao Vit Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus nasutus nasutus
- Northern White-cheeked Gibbon, Nomascus leucogenys
- Southern White-cheeked GibbonSouthern White-cheeked GibbonThe southern white-cheeked gibbon is a species of gibbon native to Vietnam and Laos. It is closely related to the northern white-cheeked gibbon and the yellow-cheeked gibbon ; it has previously been identified as a subspecies of each of these, and may potentially be a hybrid of the two rather...
, Nomascus siki - Yellow-cheeked GibbonYellow-cheeked GibbonThe yellow-cheeked gibbon , also called the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon, the golden-cheeked crested gibbon or the buffed-cheeked gibbon, is a species of gibbon native to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia....
, Nomascus gabriellae - Northern Buffed-cheeked GibbonNorthern buffed-cheeked gibbonThe northern buffed-cheeked gibbon is a newly discovered species of crested gibbon which is found in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Its habitat is in the rainforests of these countries.-Description:...
, Nomascus annamensis
- Black Crested Gibbon, Nomascus concolor
- Genus Hylobates