FaunaHub
ENEndangeredPartial review

Siamang

Symphalangus syndactylus

Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), a black gibbon with a throat sac.

Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus); this individual is in a zoo.

Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
EN · Endangered
Animal group
Mammals
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The siamang is the largest of the gibbons, a black, tree-swinging ape with a throat sac that amplifies its booming calls. It is assessed as Endangered.

Pairs sing loud duets that carry far through the forest.

Range & habitat

Rainforests of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Deforestation
  • Capture for the pet trade
  • Habitat fragmentation

Why it matters

As an agile fruit-eater that swings through the canopy and disperses seeds, the siamang is a flagship for Southeast Asia's threatened rainforests.

Gallery

A siamang with its throat sac inflated while calling.

Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus); a zoo individual.

Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Siamang

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the siamang's throat sac for?
Its large, inflatable throat sac resonates and amplifies its calls, helping the booming duets of a pair carry over long distances through dense forest.
Why is the siamang Endangered?
Published assessments cite deforestation, capture for the pet trade, and habitat fragmentation across Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. See the IUCN Red List.

Last updated: