Order : PRIMATES
Family : Hylobatidae
Species : Hylobates funereus

Head-body length : ~42-47 cm
Tail length : no tail
Weight : ~5-6.4 kg

The East Bornean Grey Gibbon Hylobates funereus is one of four species of gibbon inhabiting the island of Borneo. The species is confined to tall primary rainforest in lowland and lower montane areas of north and northeast Borneo and East Kalimantan.

Gibbons are exclusively arboreal, and do not descend to the ground unless. They may continue to survive in forests affected by logging, as long as sufficient tall trees survive in close proximity to allow ease of movement from one tree to the next. In practice, most logged areas support few or no gibbons.

Gibbons occur in small family groups generally comprising a male, female and their young. The whooping call of adult gibbons early in the morning is, perhaps, the most iconic sound of Borneo's rainforest.

Fur colour of the East Bornean Grey Gibbon is typically grey-brown, though this can vary greatly. The brow is pale cream to white.

Pictured here is a typical example of the species  from Sabah. 

Figs 1 and 3 : An East Bornean Grey Gibbon feeds on small fruits and young leaves in the early morning sun at Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.

Fig 2 : Lowland primary rainforest at Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.


References :

Payne, J., Francis, C.M., 1998. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. The Sabah Society.