The northern white-cheeked gibbon, scientifically Nomascus leucogenys, is found today only in northern Vietnam and northern Laos; it was formerly also known from Yunnan province in southern China but was confirmed extinct there in 2013. It shows marked sexual dimorphism: males have black fur with white cheek patches and a prominent head tuft, while females are reddish-tan with a dark crest running from crown to nape. The species averages about 7.5 kilograms, with captive individuals tending to be larger, and like other members of its genus has unusually long arms even for a gibbon, 1.2 to 1.4 times the length of its legs. It is closely related to the southern white-cheeked gibbon, and females of the two species are nearly indistinguishable. Its genome was sequenced and published in 2011. It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed on CITES Appendix I.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.