Hello friends Summarized! Have you ever heard a very loud sound from the forest? It could be the sound of gibbons, black-haired primates who are very agile and good at acrobatics in the trees. Siamang is a type of gibbon or gibbon that lives in Southeast Asia, especially in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Siamang has many uniqueness and features that make it different from other apes. Come on, let’s see more about gibbons in this article!
Siamang Animal, An Acrobat Specialist Who Likes to Giggle
Get to Know Siamang Animals Closer
Siamang has the scientific name Symphalangus syndactylus, which means “with finger”. This name refers to the gibbon’s characteristic feature of having webbing between the second and third toes on its front legs. This matting helps the gibbon to move quickly and stably up the trees. Siamangs also have very long arms, about 2.5 times their body length. These arms are used to swing from branch to branch in a style called brachiating. Siamangs can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h when brachiating!
Siamang has a large and heavy body for the size of a gibbon. Its body weight can reach 12-16 kg, and its body length is around 70-90 cm. Siamangs do not have tails and their posture is less upright. Its fur is black with a hint of reddish brown. His face is large with dark eyes and a small nose. Above the lips grows a thin mustache and around the mouth and chin are gray or pink.
One of the most prominent features of the gibbon is the presence of a pouch in its throat called a gular sac. This pouch can expand to the size of a gibbon’s head and functions as a voice box to amplify the gibbon’s vocalizations. The gibbon’s voice is very loud and loud, it can be heard up to 6.5 km away! The gibbon’s sound is used to communicate with its partner or group, mark its territory, or ward off predators.
Habits and Behavior of Siamang Animals
Siamang is an animal that is active during the day (diurnal) and lives in trees (arboreal). They socialize in small groups of two to three gibbons. Usually, this group consists of a pair of adult gibbons and their young. Siamangs are monogamous, meaning they are loyal to their partner for life. They also care deeply about their young and can often be seen hugging or kissing.
Siamangs do not have a special place to sleep. They just sleep alone or with a few gibbons in the gap between the branches in the trees. They sleep in an upright position, leaning against a hard cushion that sits at their rear end. These bearings are called ischial callosities.
Siamangs are omnivores, meaning they eat all types of food. About 75% of their diet is fruit, the rest is leaves, flowers, seeds and bark. They also eat spiders, insects, bird eggs or even baby birds when the opportunity arises. Siamang cannot swim and is afraid of water. They drink water by dipping their front legs in the water or rubbing their hands on wet leaves and sucking the water on their leg hairs.
Siamang Animal Threats and Conservation
Siamang is an animal that is threatened with extinction due to loss of habitat due to forest encroachment, illegal logging, plantations, mining and development. In addition, gibbons are also the target of hunting for traditional medicinal ingredients, pets, or entertainment. The gibbon population is estimated to have decreased by 50% in the last 45 years.
To protect gibbons from extinction, serious and sustainable conservation efforts are needed. Some steps that can be taken are:
- Protect gibbon habitat from damage and conversion.
- Enforce laws that prohibit the hunting and trade of gibbons.
- Increasing public awareness about the importance of conserving gibbons and their benefits for the ecosystem.
- Conduct research and monitoring of gibbon status and behavior.
- Support rehabilitation and release programs for injured or rescued gibbons.
Conclusion
Siamang is an animal that is active during the day (diurnal) and lives in trees (arboreal). Siamang is also an animal that is threatened with extinction due to loss of habitat due to forest encroachment, illegal logging, plantations, mining and development. About 75% of their diet is fruit, the rest is leaves, flowers, seeds and bark. In addition, gibbons are also the target of hunting for traditional medicinal ingredients, pets, or entertainment. The gibbon population is estimated to have decreased by 50% in the last 45 years.
Thus the article about gibbons, acrobatics specialists who like to chatter. Siamangs are unique and interesting primates, but they are also endangered. Let’s protect the gibbon and its habitat together so we can live in harmony with nature. If you have questions or feedback about this article, please write in the comments column below. Thank you for reading this article to the end. See you in the next article!
