The genus Hylobates is one of the four genera of gibbons. Its name means "forest walker", from the Greek (, "forest") and (, "one who treads").
It was once considered the only genus, but recently its subgenera (Hoolock [formerly Bunopithecus], Nomascus, and Symphalangus) have been elevated to the genus level. Hylobates remains the most species-rich and widespread of gibbon genera, ranging from southern China (Yunnan) to western and central Java.
Individuals within this genus are characterized by 44 chromosomes and often have a ring of white fur around their faces.
Classification
Family Hylobatidae: gibbons
Genus Hylobates
Lar gibbon or white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar
Malaysian lar gibbon, Hylobates lar lar
Carpenter's lar gibbon, Hylobates lar carpenteri
Central lar gibbon, Hylobates lar entelloides
Sumatran lar gibbon, Hylobates lar vestitus
Yunnan lar gibbon, Hylobates lar yunnanensis
Bornean white-bearded gibbon, Hylobates albibarbis
Agile gibbon or black-handed gibbon, Hylobates agilis
Western grey gibbon or Abbott's grey gibbon, Hylobates abbotti
Eastern grey gibbon or northern grey gibbon, Hylobates funereus
Müller's gibbon or southern grey gibbon, Hylobates muelleri
Silvery gibbon, Hylobates moloch
Western silvery gibbon or western Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch moloch
Eastern silvery gibbon or central Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch pongoalsoni
Pileated gibbon or capped gibbon, Hylobates pileatus
Kloss's gibbon or Mentawai gibbon, bilou or dwarf siamang, Hylobates klossii
Genus Hoolock
Genus Symphalangus
Genus Nomascus
Hybrids
Hybrids between Müller's gibbon (H. muelleri) and the Bornean white-bearded gibbon, (H. albibarbis) have been reported in areas of Borneo. A gibbon born at the Kujukushima Zoo in Japan to a female lar or white-handed gibbon (H. lar) was determined to have been fathered by a male agile gibbon (H. agilis).