The Activity of Gibbons in a Social Group

Abstract

Quantitative measures were obtained of the activities of a gibbon group in an outdoor compound. Thirteen subjects were used and individuals were added and removed to manipulate group size and sex and age composition. Two species were represented. Group composition produced little change in response frequencies and data were similar to those reported for wild groups. Marked differences were revealed in comparisons made with rhesus monkey groups and these differences were of the same type as those revealed in other gibbon-rhesus comparisons. Gibbons show little evidence of dominance relations and engage in more gross motor activities than do rhesus monkeys.