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Gibbon song may be music to the ears of human language students

#Gibbons and humans have more in common than might immediately seem apparent. Among many behavioural traits shared by our two species is singing. Not just that – the songs of gibbons have the potential to teach us about the origin of our own human capacities. Many are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌳✨ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/82j8CczfP_4

🎶 🐵 #Gibbons are musical maestros. Their songs unlock the secrets of human language. Let’s protect them and their symphony. Many are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌳✨ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/21/gibbon-song-may-be-music-to-the-ears-of-human-language-students/

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Background

The Japanese research emerges from a framework in evolutionary studies (with papers such as this one, this one and this one and here) in which cross-species comparison permits speculation on the origin of human capacities.

Among the features of gibbon behaviour that correspond to humans are:

monogamy, and the “nuclear family”
voice development in adolescence, especially in the male
the capacity for upright posture
vocal duetting in which male and female have acoustically complementary ranges, the adult male’s voice being lower than the female’s.

Walking instruments

As Martin Braun reminds us, all mammals are walking wind instruments. Research in acoustic communication addresses several key questions, among them:

how sound is produced anatomically
whether it is learned or stereotypical (the aspect of acquisition)
what social or intra-specific purpose it serves
the nature of the neural networks responsible for its perception and production

Back to the study

The authors of the AJPA study are interested in all of these interrelated factors. But their paper focuses in particular on the way the distinct acoustic signal (or sound) of female gibbons is produced and what this tells us about the feedback loop between sound-production and self-perception in the subject.

At the core of the AJPA study is a series of experiments – first modelled on a computer and then carried out in the laboratory – designed to test a rather complex theory: that female gibbons have the ability to modify the configuration of their vocal tracts in order to amplify signals in a specific range.

In this range, their voices are capable of extraordinarily effective exploitation of limited anatomical means.

In other words, humans and gibbons have both evolved neural control over their respiratory tracts. It is therefore what the brain achieves that allows this level of performance: the vocal tracts themselves are not especially well-suited to their task!

The rowdy, singing gibbon gang – all of them are endangered by deforestation

Pileated Gibbon Hylobates pileatus

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Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock

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Eastern Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock leuconedys

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Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock tianxing

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Kloss’s Gibbon Hylobates klossii

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Bornean White-bearded Gibbon Hylobates albibarbis

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Müller’s gibbon Hylobates muelleri

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Silvery Gibbon Hylobates moloch

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Abbott’s Gray Gibbon Hylobates abbotti

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Lar Gibbon Hylobates lar

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Northern Gray Gibbon Hylobates funereus

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Tonkin Black Crested Gibbon Nomascus concolor ssp. concolor

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Red-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus gabriellae

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Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

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Northern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus annamensis

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Northern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys

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Cao-vit Gibbon Nomascus nasutus

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Black Crested Gibbon Nomascus concolor

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Hainan Gibbon Nomascus hainanus

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Agile Gibbon Hylobates agilis

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Where musical instruments such as flutes and trumpets have relatively fixed properties of bore, length and shape, the respiratory tracts of mammals are capable of modification in a variety of ways, including:

lowering of the larynx
adaptation of the posture of the larynx
lifting of the soft palate
nasalisation
adaptation of the shape of the mouth
position and posture of the tongue, and
adaptation of the opening of the lips.

Significantly, all of these are more-or-less involved in the production of the variety of sounds on which language tends to depend.

But the aim of the Japanese research was to explore whether gibbons “tune” the shaping of their throats, mouths and lips to the frequencies generated by their vocal folds.

It’s a gas

The researchers used helium in their experiments. The use of helium as the medium in which the gibbon vocalised is thus a means of ascertaining how the subject responded to the effect – which in humans tends to shift the resonant frequencies of the voice towards “squeaky” higher “formants” (the acoustic response within an instrument – or voice – that defines the quality of sound, or timbre).

As in humans, gibbon vocalisation in the helium condition resulted in a shift of resonance to higher formants. Significantly, this was more pronounced in the higher range of the gibbon calls. This higher range marks their characteristic achievement of high-intensity vocal production able to carry over distance.

If this suggests parallels with human singing, it’s worth spelling out that all female gibbons achieve this remarkable capacity for self-amplification instinctively. Gibbon song is not learned – the ability is hard-wired.

By contrast, the opera singers to which the study’s title refers achieve a parallel ability only after careful training.

To hear the more effortlessly competent performance of a variety of gibbon species, a visit to Thomas Geissmann’s impressive gibbon research website is warmly recommended.

What comes next?

The research done by Nishimura and team opens up some fascinating avenues for follow-up studies, including:

replication with human subjects, both expert singers and non-singers
replication with other primate species (this is, apparently, underway)
play-back of the helium-condition calls to conspecifics (as well as being great vocalisers, gibbons are sophisticated listeners. The purpose of studying this area further would be to see whether other gibbons recognised in any way the humanly distorted recordings as gibbon-song)

One of the most interesting things about gibbon/human voice comparison is how easy it is for suitably uninhibited humans to elicit vocal responses from gibbons by imitating their song.

This doesn’t work for many species – try it out on most dogs, cats, horses, chimpanzees and you will encounter failure … or worse. https://www.youtube.com/embed/iAmx_XdQky8?wmode=transparent&start=0

But gibbons safely contained behind barriers are remarkably tolerant of human attempts at their song. I have personal experience of this at Twycross Zoo in the UK and Perth Zoo in Australia. My youngest son, when a boy treble, was able to imitate female gibbon calls with considerable accuracy.

This seems consistent with his ability to perform the high-lying solos in works such as Allegri’s Miserere that require precisely the acoustic control explored in this study, and whose range conforms to that in which the gibbons sing most effectively.

So some investigation of similarities with the voices of pre-adolescents in both species might also be of interest, especially with a view to tracing the means by which the ability is acquired in gibbons.

While the gibbon call is clearly acquired as a means of high-intensity transmission that permits communication across distance in dense rainforest vegetation, I have heard gibbons “rehearsing” precisely the same songs quietly: a solitary female in an isolated pen at Twycross Zoo in the UK; and two juveniles in quarantine under the supervision of their curator at Perth Zoo in Australia.

This adds additional dimensions of the roles of energy and pragmatics to the findings of this study: it illustrates that, while gibbons are capable, much like human sopranos, of ear-splitting volume, they can also achieve the same calls quietly.

In “engineering” terms this means they can control breath-flow alongside the “tuning” effects already described.

Investigation of these features would be of interest in order to tease out implications of this study for the evolution of human language.

Nicholas Bannan, Professor in Music Education, University of Western Australia. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

#animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #Gibbon #Gibbons #language #monkey #palmoil #Primate #songs

Silvery Gibbon Hylobates moloch

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: Indonesia (island of Java, including provinces of Banten, West Java, and Central Java as far east as the Dieng Mountains)

The Silvery #Gibbon 🩶🐒🐵 of genus ‘Hylobates’ meaning ‘Forest Walker’. They sing to each other in ‘local’ accents and do thrilling acrobatics 🤸‍♂️ They are #endangered, help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/06/silvery-gibbon-hylobates-moloch/

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The Silvery Gibbon belongs to the genus Hylobates. The word Hylobates means ‘Forest Walker’ in Greek. The gibbons in this genus are known for the white circle of fur around their faces. They are known to communicate in species-specific song when defining territory or attracting mates. They sing in regional accents to each other, have long swinging arms, inquisitive natures and superior acrobatic skills, they spend most of their lives high up in the tree-tops.

Appearance & Behaviour

Silvery gibbons are small apes, their bodies draped in long, silvery-grey fur with a dark grey or black cap on their heads and a distinctive fringe of white or light grey around their dark faces. Adults typically weigh around 6 kilograms, with males and females similar in size. Their arms are exceptionally long, spanning twice their body length, allowing them to brachiate—swing hand over hand—through the treetops with remarkable speed and agility. Unlike many other gibbon species, silvery gibbons do not sing duets; instead, it is the females who dominate the morning chorus with loud, haunting calls that echo through the forest. These family groups, usually consisting of a monogamous pair and their offspring, move together through the canopy, their movements fluid and almost effortless.

Threats

Palm oil and agricultural deforestation

Silvery gibbons face severe pressure from the ongoing loss of their forest habitat. In Java, particularly in Banten Province, deforestation is accelerating at a high rate. The conversion of forests to agricultural land, including palm oil plantations and other crops, leaves behind only isolated fragments of habitat. This fragmentation forces gibbons into ever-smaller territories, increasing stress and competition for resources. The once-continuous canopy that silvery gibbons depend on is being replaced by agricultural fields, making survival increasingly difficult for these arboreal primates.

Illegal pet trade, illegal poaching and hunting

Silvery gibbons are targeted by hunters for both meat and the illegal pet trade. Poachers often kill adult gibbons to capture infants, who are then sold as pets in markets throughout Indonesia. This practice not only removes individuals from the wild but also disrupts family groups and weakens the social structure essential for gibbon survival. The illegal pet trade remains a persistent and devastating threat, driven by demand for exotic animals and compounded by the ongoing destruction of their natural habitat.

Timber logging and habitat fragmentation

Logging operations further degrade and fragment the remaining forest habitat of silvery gibbons. Roads and clearings cut through the forest, severing the vital canopy connections that gibbons rely on for movement and social interaction. Fragmentation isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and making them more vulnerable to disease and environmental change. In many areas, only small, isolated groups of gibbons remain, cut off from neighbouring populations by cleared land.

Climate change

Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threaten to alter the delicate balance of Indonesia’s forests. Changes in fruiting and flowering times can disrupt the silvery gibbon’s food supply, while extreme weather events destroy habitat and isolate populations even further. The silvery gibbon’s world is becoming hotter, drier, and less predictable, with the forests they depend on shrinking year by year.

Diet

Silvery gibbons are primarily frugivorous, with fruit making up about 61% of their diet and leaves accounting for another 38%. They also consume flowers and, to a lesser extent, insects. The silvery gibbon’s foraging is a daily journey through the treetops, as they search for scattered fruit-bearing trees. Their home ranges average between 17 and 60 hectares, and several families may share overlapping territories, especially where fruit is abundant. The rhythm of their feeding is woven into the life of the forest, as they play a vital role in seed dispersal and the regeneration of their ecosystem.

Mating & Reproduction

The Silvery Gibbon is considered Endangered based on a suspected population reduction of 50% or more over the course of three generations (2001-2015, 2016-2030, 2031-2045). This ongoing decline is due to the combined threats of forest habitat loss and hunting for subsistence purposes, in addition to supplying the pet trade.
IUCN Red List

Silvery gibbons are monogamous, forming lifelong pair bonds. There is no set breeding season, and females give birth to a single infant after a gestation period of about seven to eight months. The mother carries her baby close for the first year, nursing and protecting it as the family group moves through the forest. Weaning occurs at around 18 months, and offspring remain with their parents until they reach maturity at about eight years of age, when they leave to form their own families. The family unit is tight-knit, with both parents sharing in the care of their young and strong emotional bonds that are essential for survival in a changing world.

Geographic Range

Silvery gibbons are endemic to the island of Java, Indonesia, with their range primarily in the (still forested) western regions of Banten and West Java, and extending into parts of Central Java as far east as the Dieng Mountains. They inhabit lowland and lower montane rainforests up to 2,400 metres above sea level, though they are most commonly found below 1,600 metres. Their historical range has contracted dramatically due to deforestation and human infrastructure development, and they are now restricted to fragmented forest patches. The sounds of the silvery gibbon—once a common feature of Java’s forests—are now tragically heard in very few places.

FAQs

How many silvery gibbons are left?

Estimates suggest that fewer than 2,500 mature silvery gibbons remain in the wild, with populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and the illegal pet trade. In some areas, fewer than 2,000 individuals are considered genetically viable for the continuation of the species. The silvery gibbon’s future is precarious, and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction.

What are the characteristics of the silvery gibbon?

Silvery gibbons are small, slender apes with long, silvery-grey fur and a dark cap on their heads. They lack a tail, and their arms are exceptionally long—up to twice their body length—allowing them to brachiate through the forest canopy with remarkable speed and grace. Adults typically weigh between 6 and 8 kilograms, with males slightly larger than females. Silvery gibbons are strictly arboreal, rarely descending to the forest floor, and live in small, monogamous family groups. The female leads the morning chorus with haunting, resonant calls that can be heard for up to a kilometre.

Is a silvery gibbon a monkey?

A silvery gibbon is not a monkey, but a lesser ape. The primary difference between a lesser ape (like a gibbon) and a monkey is that apes, including lesser apes, do not have tails, while most monkeys do. Additionally, apes are generally larger and have broader chests, while monkeys tend to be smaller and have narrower chests. Apes also have shoulder joints that allow for brachiation—swinging through trees—and some species exhibit higher intelligence and tool use. Lesser apes, such as gibbons and siamangs, are smaller than the great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and humans) but share these key anatomical and behavioural traits. In contrast, most monkeys have tails, which they use for balance, and are more adapted to running along branches rather than swinging through the trees. While monkeys are intelligent, apes generally exhibit more complex cognitive abilities and social behaviours.

Why will the silvery gibbon become extinct in the next decade?

The silvery gibbon faces multiple, compounding threats that make extinction within the next decade a real possibility. Habitat loss due to deforestation has reduced their forest home to less than 4% of its original extent. Fragmentation isolates populations, making them more vulnerable to disease and genetic decline. The illegal pet trade continues to remove individuals from the wild, and climate change is altering the availability of food and water. Without urgent, large-scale intervention, the silvery gibbon is likely to disappear from much of its remaining range.

Are gibbon monkeys aggressive?

Gibbons, including silvery gibbons, are not monkeys but lesser apes. In their natural environment, silvery gibbons are highly territorial and will defend their home range with vocalisations and, if necessary, physical displays. Males and females both play a role in defending their territory, with the female’s morning calls and the male’s aggressive responses to intruders. Within the family group, silvery gibbons are generally peaceful and nurturing, with strong social bonds between parents and offspring. In captivity, gibbons can show aggression during introductions or when resources are contested, but this is not typical of their behaviour in the wild.

Are silvery gibbons Endangered?

Yes, the silvery gibbon is classified as Endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species. Their population is estimated at fewer than 2,500 mature individuals and is declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and the illegal pet trade. The silvery gibbon’s survival is at risk, and their future depends on the protection of remaining forest habitat and the reduction of human-induced threats

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation, mining, and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with the silvery gibbon.

Further Information

Kim, S., Lappan, S., & Choe, J. C. (2010). Diet and ranging behavior of the endangered Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) in a submontane tropical rainforest. American Journal of Primatology, 72(10), 991–1000. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20893

Nijman, V. 2020. Hylobates moloch. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T10550A17966495. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T 10550A17966495.en. Downloaded on 06 February 2021.

Reyes, K. R., Patel, U. A., Nunn, C. L., & Samson, D. R. (2021). Gibbon sleep quantified: The influence of lunar phase and meteorological variables on activity in Hylobates moloch and Hylobates pileatus. Primates, 62, 749–759. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34052907/

Silvery Gibbon Hylobates moloch

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SAVE THE PLANET, FIGHT CAPITALISM!
🖤 Gibbon à mains blanches (Hylobates lar)
#petitcoeureuroseriesinges #20euro #gibbon #savetheplanet #fightcapitalism #streetart

🐒🦌 En Thaïlande, un gibbon a été filmé en train de toiletter un cerf pour chercher des puces 🐒🦌
Quand la jungle nous offre une leçon d’amitié inattendue !

🎥 Inconnu

#Gibbon #Cerf #Toilettage #AmitiéInsolite #Nature #WildlifeMoments #2tout2rien #Thaïlande

Gibbon

#photography #gibbon #bratislava #slovakia

Gibbon

#photography #gibbon #bratislava #slovakia

The lovable Gibbon Family that will bring a smile to anybody's face.
https://t.co/C6YKTH5RSI
#gibbons #whitehandedgibbon #gibbon #zoodepalmyre https://t.co/QV4sblFDto

— SloggerVlogger (@SloggerVlogger)
Apr 16, 2025

April 16, 2025 at 10:01AM

via Twitter https://twitter.com/SloggerVlogger

The lovable Gibbon Family that will bring a smile to anybody's face.
https://t.co/C6YKTH5RSI
#gibbons #whitehandedgibbon #gibbon #zoodepalmyre https://t.co/QV4sblFDto

— SloggerVlogger (@SloggerVlogger)
Apr 16, 2025

April 16, 2025 at 10:01AM

via Twitter https://twitter.com/SloggerVlogger

@photography

A three-month old white-cheeked gibbon looks from inside a cage. Thai police arrested a UAE citizen as he was preparing to fly first class from Bangkok to Dubai with various rare and endangered animals in his suitcases, which included four leopards, one Malayan sun bear, one white-cheeked gibbon, one black-tufted marmoset, an Asiatic black bear and two macaque monkeys. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

#AnimalPoaching
#AnimalRescue
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