Buff-cheeked Gibbon
Hylobates gabriellae

Spending its life in the trees, the gibbon is known for its specialized form of swinging locomotion called brachiation. Bending its slender fingers, the hand forms a hook. Reaching out a long and powerful arm, it hooks onto a branch and swings itself forward to the next one.

Fact File

Head and Body Length: 1.5 to 2 ft

Weight: Up to 12.5 lbs

Lifespan: Up to 50 yrs in captivity

Habitat: Tropical rainforest

Diet: Fruit, leaves and invertebrates

Status: Species at Risk (U.S. Endangered Species List—Endangered)