Animal: Gibbon

Species: There are 11 species of Gibbon, they are the Agile, Crested, Red-cheeked, Hoolock, Kloss', white-handed, white-cheeked, Javan, Bornean, Pileated, and the Siamang Gibbon.

Lifespan: Although Gibbons have lived into their early 40's when kept in captivity, it is thought that they typically live to be about 25-30 years old in the wild.

Size & Weight: Gibbons are about 3ft long and 15lbs. However, the exact size and weight depends on the specie of the Gibbon.

Habitat: Gibbons are found in Southeast Asian rainforests. Gibbons spend the majority of their days in the canopy of the forest looking for food and staying up high to avoid their ground dwelling predators. Gibbons even travel via means of trees using a method called Brachiating. Brachiating is a termed used to describe how some primates can travel by swinging from tree to tree by swinging on branches and vines. In the evenings, Gibbons take shelter in the heights of the tallest trees in the rainforest and stay quiet to keep safe while they sleep.

Family Life: Gibbons live in family groups that consist of a mating male and female and their young offspring. Once the offspring have matured, they leave their parents and search for mates of their own. Gibbons are very territorial apes. A family of Gibbon take up between 20 to 45 acres of rainforest. Every morning when they wake they hoot and make noise to make sure no other Gibbons encroach upon their territory and eat from their fruit trees.

Diet: Most of a Gibbons diet consists of fruit, leaves, bark, and tender baby shoots. However, Gibbons also eat a notable amount of insects, birds eggs, and sometimes even small birds.

*Fun Facts*

* Newborn Gibbons are hairless except for a small tuft of hair on their heads.

* Gibbons are considered one of the most agile animals on earth.

* Gibbons mate for life.