''Nomascus'' is the second-most speciose

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of the

gibbon Gibbons () are apes in the family Hylobatidae (). The family historically contained one genus, but now is split into four extant genera and 20 species. Gibbons live in subtropical and tropical forests from eastern Bangladesh and Northeast Indi ...

family,

Hylobatidae Gibbons () are apes in the Family (biology), family Hylobatidae (). The family historically contained one genus, but now is split into four extant genera and 20 species. Gibbons live in subtropical and tropical forests from eastern Bangladesh an ...

. Originally, this genus was a

subgenus In biology, a subgenus ( subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the ge ...

of ''Hylobates'', with all individuals considered to be one species, ''H. concolor''. Species within ''Nomascus'' are characterized by 52 chromosomes. Some species are all-black, some are a lighter beige or peach hue, with a distinct black tuft of crown fur, while others have notable, light-colored cheek “patches”. ''Nomascus'' is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

from

southern China Northern China () and Southern China () are two approximate regions that display certain differences in terms of their geography, demographics, economy, and culture. Extent The Qinling–Daba Mountains serve as the transition zone between ...

(

Yunnan Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...

) to southern

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

, and can also be found on

Hainan Hainan is an island provinces of China, province and the southernmost province of China. It consists of the eponymous Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea under the province's administration. The name literally mean ...

. Every species within this genus are either

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

critically endangered An IUCN Red List critically endangered (CR or sometimes CE) species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of t ...

; the Eastern black crested gibbon (''Nomascus nasutus'') has been deemed "the most-critically endangered ape species in the world".

Extant species

Classification

* Family

: gibbons ** Genus '' Hylobates'' ** Genus '' Hoolock'' ** Genus '' Symphalangus'' ** Genus ''Nomascus'' ***

Black crested gibbon The black crested gibbon (''Nomascus concolor'') is a Critically Endangered species of gibbon found in China, Laos, and northern Vietnam, with four subspecies. Taxonomy The taxonomy of the species is confused. Previously grouped in the gen ...

, ''Nomascus concolor'' **** Tonkin black crested gibbon, ''Nomascus concolor concolor'' **** Laotian black crested gibbon, ''Nomascus concolor lu'' **** Central Yunnan black crested gibbon, ''Nomascus concolor jingdongensis'' **** West Yunnan black crested gibbon, ''Nomascus concolor furvogaster'' *** Eastern black crested gibbon, ''Nomascus nasutus'' *** Hainan black crested gibbon, ''Nomascus hainanus'' *** Northern white-cheeked gibbon, ''Nomascus leucogenys'' *** Southern white-cheeked gibbon, ''Nomascus siki'' *** Yellow-cheeked gibbon, ''Nomascus gabriellae'' *** Northern buffed-cheeked gibbon, ''Nomascus annamensis''

References

External links

*ARKive
images and movies of the black-crested gibbon ''(Nomascus concolor)''Gibbon Conservation CenterPrimate Info Net ''Hylobates (Nomascus) leucogenys'' Factsheet
{{Authority control Gibbons Mammals of Southeast Asia Primate genera Taxa named by Gerrit Smith Miller Jr. Taxa described in 1933