Siamangs
Siamangs are small apes with long slender arms about 2 ½ times their height. They have long canine teeth, opposable thumbs and a big toe that is deeply separated from the foot. Their short-muzzled faces are nearly hairless. Male and female pairs sing loud duets to mark their territories. These calls usually start with dull, deep, bell like tones, continuing with a shattering high yell followed by an high-pitched laughter. The males and females have different calls that compliment each other.
They are active tree dwellers living in families consisting of a male, female, and up to three offspring. They travel through the trees by a method called brachiating. When traveling fast, they will release one hand before the other hand has caught a branch so that the body is freely projected through the air. Flights of 30 feet have been witnessed.
RANGE: Barisan Mountains of Sumatra and in the mountains of the Malay Peninsula, south of the Perak River.
HABITAT: Found in lowland areas, hills and upper forests. They spend most of their time in the upper canopy of trees.
LIFE EXPECTANCY: They usually live into their mid-twenties, but they have lived up to 40 years in captivity.
BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS: They are monogamous. They take their time in choosing a mate and do not re-mate when one dies.
DIET IN THE WILD: Mainly fruit and leaves but they also eat insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates. They eat a far higher portion of leaves than any other gibbon.
DIET IN THE ZOO: Vegetables, greens, fruit and primate chow.
LITTER SIZE: Usually one offspring but occasionally twins.