Javan gibbon (Hylobates Moloch)
Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch)
Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) or Silvery gibbon known as Javan gibbon is one of the endemic primate species of the island of Java, included in the category of endangered according to the IUCN red list (the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and listed in Annex I CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) so that international trade in these animals is prohibited by CITES.
Javan gibbon belongs to the family: Hylobatidae; genus: Hylobates; species: Hylobates moloch (Audebert 1797), and local name: gibbons, gray wau-wau.
The genus Hylobates does not have a tail, the head is small and round, the nose is not prominent, the jaw is small and short, the chest is wide with thick hair silvery gray, there is swelling in the female genitals and has ischial callosities. The hair on the head and face is black, while the eyebrows are white. The hair color in colored babies is brighter than adult Javan gibbons. Javan gibbon body weight is around 6 kg. Adult male and female body lengths range from 75-80 cm, have long arms and a slender body.
Javan gibbons are monogamous animals. Females will produce offspring every 2 to 3 years with 7-8 months of pregnancy. Baby Javan gibbons will remain in groups until they are fully sexually mature and go to form their own families. If there is a threat in their area, female gibbons will issue a call alarm as a sign of danger.
The distribution of Javan gibbons is currently limited to national park areas and protected forests in West Java and Central Java, especially in the Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park, TN. Gunung Gede Pangrango, TN. Ujung Kulon, Mount Simpang, Leuweung Sancang, Mount Papandayan and Mount Tilu. Specifically, the Javan gibbon habitat is a tropical forest, from the lowlands to the mountains with an altitude of 0-1,600 m above sea level. Tropical rainforest below 1,500 m above sea level. is an exclusive habitat for Javan gibbons. Javan gibbons rarely go down to the surface and use most of their time in the upper tree canopy, so that their survival depends on the tree as a protector and feed source.
The highest percentage of feed types were ripe fruits (61%), leaves (38%) and flowers (1%). Fruits are the main feed source of gibbons compared to other parts of the feed tree. However, gibbons are also identified as consuming shoots, young stems, flowers and some invertebrate animals.
Editor: Rachmitasari Noviana
Photo : Entang Iskandar
Referensi
Kappeler M, 1984. The Lesser Apes. Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology. Edinburgh University Press.
Rowe N. 1996. The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates. Pogonias Press, East Hampton, NY
Andayani, N., Morales, J. C., Forstner, M. R. J., Supriatna, J. and Melnick, D. J. 2001. Genetic variability in mtDNA of the silvery gibbon: implications for the conservation of a critically endangered species. Conservation Biology 15(3): 770.
Andayani, et al. 2008. Hylobates moloch. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T10550A3199941.
Nijman, van Ballen. 1998. A faunal survey of the Dieng Mountains, Central Java, Indonesia: Distribution and conservation of endemic primate taxa. Oryx 32:145.
