Nomascus concolor
TAXONOMY
Nomascus concolor (Harlan, 1826), Tonkin, Vietnam. At least two subspecies (possibly species): N. c. concolor, N. hainanus, possibly N. jingdongensis, possibly N. lu, and sp. cf. nasutus.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Black gibbon, concolor gibbon, crested gibbon, Indochinese gibbon; French: Gibbon noir, gibbon a favoris blancs; German: Schwarzer Schopgibbon.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Size 18–25 in (45.7–63.5 cm); weight 9.9–19.8 lb (4.5–9 kg). Sexually dichromatic: male black; female yellow, orange, or beige brown with black cap; young born yellowy with reddish face, turning black at six months until puberty (females).
DISTRIBUTION
Southern China, including Hainan Island, northern Vietnam, and northwest Laos.
HABITAT
Tropical semi-evergreen and evergreen rainforest.
BEHAVIOR
Population density 0.4 groups/2.5 mi2 (km2); home range 113 ac (46 ha); day range 0.5 mi (0.8 km). Male: simple, staccato, multi-modulated notes; female twitter and vibrato, eight notes, eight seconds, male coda at end.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Diet is mainly fruit, also flowers, leaves, and animal matter.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous. Produce single young every three years or so.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered (IUCN); Critically endangered (FFI).
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Very rare, so highly prized by traders, but local people are being empowered to protect, with financial and pride incentives.
