Hylobates

The genus Hylobates /ˌhaɪloʊˈbeɪtiːz/ is one of the four genera of gibbons. Its name means "forest walker", from the Greek hūlē (ὕλη, "forest") and bates (βάτης, "one who treads").^[3][4]

Hylobates[1][2]
A pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus) female hanging from tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Family:	Hylobatidae
Genus:	Hylobates Illiger, 1811
Type species
Homo lar [1] Linnaeus, 1771
Species
Hylobates lar Hylobates agilis Hylobates albibarbis Hylobates abbotti Hylobates funereus Hylobates muelleri Hylobates moloch Hylobates pileatus Hylobates klossii
Distribution of Hylobates and its species (note: Bornean population formerly included in H. agilis is now generally considered a separate species, H. albibarbis; H. muelleri is now split into H. muelleri, H. abbotti, and H. funereus)

It was once considered the only genus, but recently its subgenera (Hoolock [formerly Bunopithecus], Nomascus, and Symphalangus) have been elevated to the genus level.^[1][5] Hylobates remains the most species-rich and widespread of gibbon genera, ranging from southern China (Yunnan) to western and central Java.

Individuals within this genus are characterized by 44 chromosomes and often have a ring of white fur around their faces.^[2]

Classification

• Family Hylobatidae: gibbons^[1][2]
  • Genus Hylobates
    • Lar gibbon or white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar
      • Malaysian lar gibbon, Hylobates lar lar
      • Carpenter's lar gibbon, Hylobates lar carpenteri
      • Central lar gibbon, Hylobates lar entelloides
      • Sumatran lar gibbon, Hylobates lar vestitus
      • Yunnan lar gibbon, Hylobates lar yunnanensis
    • Bornean white-bearded gibbon, Hylobates albibarbis
    • Agile gibbon or black-handed gibbon, Hylobates agilis
    • Western grey gibbon or Abbott's grey gibbon, Hylobates abbotti
    • Eastern grey gibbon or northern grey gibbon, Hylobates funereus
    • Müller's gibbon or southern grey gibbon, Hylobates muelleri
    • Silvery gibbon, Hylobates moloch
      • Western silvery gibbon or western Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch moloch
      • Eastern silvery gibbon or central Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch pongoalsoni
    • Pileated gibbon or capped gibbon, Hylobates pileatus
    • Kloss's gibbon or Mentawai gibbon, bilou or dwarf siamang, Hylobates klossii
  • Genus Hoolock
  • Genus Symphalangus
  • Genus Nomascus

Hybrids

Hybrids between Müller's gibbon (H. muelleri) and the Bornean white-bearded gibbon, (H. albibarbis) have been reported in areas of Borneo.^[6] A gibbon born at the Kujukushima Zoo in Japan to a female lar or white-handed gibbon (H. lar) was determined to have been fathered by a male agile gibbon (H. agilis).^[7]