White cheeked gibbons are a lesser ape from southeast Asia— including Laos, Vietnam, and southern China.  They can reach 18–25 inches in height and weigh up to 12.5. Gibbons have extremely long arms and legs that were adapted for living in the trees. They use a highly specialized mode of locomotion called “brachiation.” Instead of grasping, their hands form a loose hook around branches which makes it possible to swing from tree to tree.

White cheeked gibbons’ appearance varies by age and with sex. All infants are born a blonde color. When they are about one to one and a half years old, their coats become black with white cheek patches. At sexual maturity (which is about five to seven years old), males stay black while females return to the initial blonde color.

Did You Know?
Gibbons are among the 6% of primate species that are monogamous.

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Order: Primates
  • Family: Hylobatidae
  • Genus: Nomascus
  • Species: N. leucogenys
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