Gibbon

ape · rainforest · acrobat

Masters of swinging. Gibbons are the best swingers in the animal world. They use their long arms to leap from branch to branch through the rainforest canopy, sometimes traveling over 40 feet in a single swing.

Home in Southeast Asia. These agile apes live in the tropical and subtropical forests stretching from Bangladesh and Northeast India all the way through Southeast Asia and Indonesia. They rarely come down to the ground.

Four different groups. Scientists used to think all gibbons were one type, but now they know there are actually four different genera with about 20 species total. Each type is specially adapted to its own forest home.

Loud and musical. Gibbons are famous for their incredible vocal calls that echo through the forest. They use these sounds to talk to each other and mark their territory.

Close family bonds. Unlike many other apes, gibbons often live in pairs or small family groups and are very devoted parents who teach their young for several years.