THE SIAMANG

The Siamang is the largest and darkest species of gibbon. Siamangs spend
most of their lives in trees. The Siamang is one of nine species of gibbons. The
Siamang is the largest, darkest, and noisiest species of gibbon. Because of the
rapid deforestation of their habitats, gibbons are an endangered species.
Siamangs are very small and lightweight. They have a small, round head, very
long arms (the arms are longer than the legs), and a short, slender body. Siamangs,
like all gibbons, have lightweight bones. Like all apes, they have no tail.
Siamangs can grasp and carry things with both their hands and their feet.
When they swing through the trees, they use four fingers of their hands like a
hook.
Unlike other gibbons, Siamangs have webbing between the 2nd and 3rd toes.
Siamangs are omnivores (eating plants and small animals). They look for food
in the forests during the day, eating fruit, leaves, flowers, seeds, tree bark, and
tender plant shoots. They also eat insects, spiders, bird eggs, and small birds.
Siamangs, like other gibbons, drink water. Often they drink by dipping a
furry hand into the water or rubbing a hand on wet leaves, and then slurping up the
water from their fur.
The Siamang, unlike other gibbons, has an inflatable throat sac. This sac can
be inflated to be as big as the Siamang's head. It acts a resonating chamber for
the vocal cords, making the sounds even louder. Their hooting can be heard up to 2
miles (6.5 km) away through the dense rain forest.
Each morning upon awakening a family group of gibbons very loudly announces
its presence in the forest, using a territorial hooting call and menacing gestures.
This call warns other Siamangs to stay out of their territory (and especially away
from the local fruit trees). This noisy display takes 1/2 hour or more every morning
and is usually started by the adult female. The male and female have different
calls.
Siamang considered as an intelligent species because it is one of the few
species that can recognize their own reflection.

Answer these questions.

1. Where can the Siamang be found?

2. What does the Siamang eat?

3. How do Siamang make their call so loud?

4. Why is the Siamang considered an intelligent species?

5. What does it use its long arms for?