The siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) is a tailless, arboreal, black-furredgibbon native to the

forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The largest of the lesser apes, the siamang can be
twice the size of other gibbons, reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg. The siamang is
the only species in the genusSymphalangus.
The siamang is distinctive for two reasons. The first is that two digits on each foot are partially joined
by a membranehence the name "syndactylus", from theAncient Greek sun-, "united" + daktulos,
"finger". The second is the large gular sac (found in both males and females of the species), which
is a throat pouch that can be inflated to the size of the siamang's head, allowing the animal to make
loud, resonating calls or songs.
There may be two subspecies of the siamang. If so, they are the nominate Sumatran siamang (S. s.
syndactylus) and the Malaysian siamang (S. s. continentis, in peninsular Malaysia).[3] Otherwise, the
Malaysian individuals are only a population. The siamang occurs sympatrically with other gibbons;
its two ranges are entirely within the combined ranges of the agile gibbon and the lar gibbon.
Although the siamang is given a name different from that of other gibbons, this division is not
cladistically sound, since the genus Nomascus split from the rest of the gibbons before
the Symphalangus split.[4]
The siamang can live more than 30 years in captivity.
While the illegal pet trade takes a toll on wild populations, the principal threat to the siamang is
habitat loss in both Malaysia and Sumatra. The palm oilproduction industry is clearing large swaths

of forest, reducing the habitat of the siamang, along with that of other species, such as the Sumatran
tiger.