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What are Gibbons, you may ask? Gibbons are primates that live in tropical and subtropical rainforests. I was introduced to these adorable creatures through my roommate, who studied them in her Human Evolution class. They are sometimes referred to as lesser apes, because they are pair-bonded and are more anatomically similar to monkeys. Their most distinguishing feature, however, is their mastery of brachiation, the mode of locomation in which primates swing between tree limbs using only their arms. 
Photo by J. Zuckerman In fact, it is said that they are so used to swinging from trees that they keep their arms in the air even when they are walking on the ground. This can be seen in the video below, particularly around the 1:00 mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AAB8ZisUsM Intrigued? Want to learn more about Gibbons? Click here! Want even more? These are excellent sources available on the web: Smithsonian National Zoological Park Page Gibbon Conservation Center Enchanted Learning Page |