Southern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on fruits and leaves. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Southern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon
- The yellow-cheeked gibbon carries the name of British naturalist Gabrielle Maud Vassal, honouring her role in its discovery. It is also known by a string of common names, including golden-cheeked gibbon, yellow-cheeked crested gibbon, golden-cheeked crested gibbon, red-cheeked gibbon and buffed-cheeked gibbon. This primate is native to three countries in mainland Southeast Asia - Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - where it inhabits primary tropical forest.
- Newborn yellow-cheeked gibbons are born with a blond coat that helps them blend with their mother's fur, but they soon darken to black as they grow. Males retain the black colour for life and are distinguished by striking golden cheeks that give the species its name. Females follow the same early colour change, turning black before reaching sexual maturity, at which point they revert to a blond hue while keeping a black cap on the top of their heads.
- In 2020 the largest known population of yellow-cheeked gibbons was recorded in Cambodia's Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, with an estimated 1 432 individuals. Surveys indicate that this number has remained stable for the past decade, suggesting a relatively secure local population despite broader threats.
- Adults spend their lives high in the forest crown, where they face no natural predators aside from humans. This upper-canopy habit keeps them away from most carnivores, limiting predation risk to people who hunt them. In the lower stories of the forest, however, they are vulnerable to a few large hunters. Leopards, clouded leopards and pythons are the only species mentioned as possible threats in those lower layers.
- Mated pairs perform duets where the song is tightly coordinated and each sex contributes its own phrase. The joint vocalisation is heard at dawn and is thought to serve several functions at once. By broadcasting their presence, the pair can defend valuable resources such as territories and food trees from rivals. The same performance may also help attract potential mates by signalling the pair's strength and cohesion.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and leaves
About the Southern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon
In the lush, emerald canopy of the tropical forest, the Southern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon swings effortlessly, its agile form a blur of motion as it navigates the dense network of branches with precision and grace. With a hauntingly beautiful song, the gibbon announces its presence, a melodic call that echoes through the trees, a testament to its remarkable vocal abilities and a crucial aspect of its social behavior. As it glides through its arboreal realm, the gibbon's striking yellow cheek patches seem to glow like tiny beacons, a vibrant splash of color in the dappled shade of its endangered habitat.
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