Why Do Gibbons Scream?

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Written by Kellianne Matthews

Published: November 12, 2024

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Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), Siamese monkey's facial expression when screaming, Siamang closeup face
Kurit afshen/Shutterstock.com

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? Do you snooze your alarm? Grab a bite to eat? Get ready for the day? Well, if you’re a gibbon, your morning routine is a bit different — it involves a lot of very loud, early-morning screaming!

Singe gibbon siamang, primates closeup, animal closeup

There are 20 species of gibbons, organized into four genera.

While they are part of the ape family, gibbons are often referred to as “lesser” or “small” apes due to their smaller size compared to the great apes. Despite their smaller status, however, these special primates easily stand out with their incredibly loud vocalizations. If you want to know what a gibbon sounds like, be sure to turn the volume up to fully appreciate their extraordinary vocal power in the video above!

Why Do Gibbons Scream?

White-Handed Gibbon

Unlike other apes, gibbons do not make nests.

Much like humans, gibbons use a variety of sounds for different reasons. In the morning, they often begin their day with loud, booming calls to claim their territory. Male and female gibbons also greet each other with loud calls, often harmonizing in a unique duet. Even distant groups of gibbons might engage in a call-and-response concert, singing in a round across the forest.

Gibbons create complex songs from a set of basic calls. These loud sounds serve many purposes, including defending territory, attracting mates, and strengthening pair bonds and family ties. Some gibbons, like the lar or white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) in Thailand, even use their songs as a defense mechanism against predators

However, gibbon calls are more than just loud noises. Male and female gibbons have different songs that they often sing together in intricate duets, synchronized and harmonized with surprising precision. These duets use precise timing, harmonization, and melody interplay — remarkably similar to human music. 

How Do Gibbons Make Such Loud Sounds?

Beautiful siamang calling, animal closeup

A gibbon’s song is unique to its particular group and region.

Gibbons are the second loudest primate in the world, second only to the howler monkey. Their loud calls are quick to alert other humans and animals of their presence in an area. In fact, a gibbon’s call can be heard from up to two miles away.

Gibbons, like humans, produce sound through a “source-filter” method. Their vocal cords vibrate, creating a blend of harmonic frequencies. The shape of their vocal tract, which they can adjust by manipulating their mouth, teeth, and lips, determines which of these harmonics are amplified. This process, known as “resonance tuning,” allows gibbons to produce a variety of calls, much like how human singers adjust their vocal tracts to produce different notes and sounds. 

The Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) is the largest — and loudest — of the gibbon family. These unique gibbons have an inflatable air sack below their face that they can inflate to the size of their head! While this might make them look like bullfrogs, it allows them to produce loud, booming calls that can travel for miles through the rainforest. 

Where Do Gibbons Live?

The lar gibbon (Hylobates lar), also known as the white-handed gibbon in Thailand.

Gibbons can travel through the trees going nearly 35 mph!

Gibbons are native to the southern, southeastern, and eastern regions of Asia. Twenty species of gibbons can be found throughout these regions in the subtropical and tropical rainforests of countries like Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India. All gibbons are arboreal primates, which means they spend nearly all their time up in the trees. 

Unlike other apes, gibbons have incredibly long arms — longer than their entire body. When on the ground, they hold their arms out for balance. But up in the trees, gibbons shine as true acrobatic masters, swinging effortlessly through the canopy.

Gibbons are highly social creatures who form strong, lifelong bonds. Male and female gibbons often mate for life and develop their own unique songs and calls. 

Unfortunately, nearly all 20 species of gibbons are endangered or critically endangered. The eastern black-crested gibbon (Nomascus nasutus), for example, is the rarest primate on earth, while the Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is the rarest mammal, with fewer than 25 remaining in the wild. There aren’t any Hainan gibbons in captivity either, which puts these incredibly rare creatures on the brink of extinction.


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About the Author

Kellianne Matthews

Kellianne Matthews is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on anthrozoology, conservation, human-animal relationships, and animal behavior. Kellianne has been writing and researching animals for over ten years and has decades of hands-on experience working with a variety of different animals. She holds a Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University, which she earned in 2017. A resident of Utah, Kellianne enjoys creating, analyzing movies, and hanging out with her dog and cats.

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