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SSP Species / Endangered Species
Gibbons are small arboreal apes that live in the upper canopy
of the lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia. The White-cheeked
gibbon is one of eleven species of gibbons and one of the more
endangered. Well adapted for life in the forest, these long-armed
primates swing effortlessly from branch to branch, using the rainforest
canopy like a highway in the sky.
You can't mistake who's who with an adult pair of gibbons. Males
and females are easily distinguished by color. Males are all
black with white cheek patches, while females are buff or cream-colored
with a black spot on the top of the head. But both sexes start
out identical - all baby White-cheeked gibbons are buff color
like mom's body (pretty effective camouflage). By their first
birthday both males and females turn black. It is not until maturity
that females once again change color back to buff.
Learn more about the Minnesota Zoo's white-cheeked
gibbons
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