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Hand Manipulation Skills in Hylobatids

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Evolution of Gibbons and Siamang

Part of the book series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects ((DIPR))

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that hylobatids possess limited ability to grasp objects because of their unique hand shape; however information on the manipulative abilities of gibbon hands is scarce. This study explores the ways gibbons use their hands to transport, manipulate, and hold objects, thus offering insight into the cognitive and functional abilities of the small apes. Our investigation monitored object contact and manipulation technique employed by two pairs of captive adult gibbons through focal animal studies by introducing various inanimate objects to their environments. Our results show that hylobatid hands are not immobile hooks, but rather hylobatids are able to manipulate objects in a variety of ways beyond those suggested in previous descriptions of object manipulation. Hylobatids use their first digit extensively during a variety of activities, most often employing the thumb when transporting small objects during travel (carrying food) and when engaging in fine-tuned motor movements. Their frequent use of the thumb alone to pick, probe, and investigate objects indicates that the thumb is of vital importance to hylobatids and is most often employed as a sensory digit.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Toronto Zoo , Toronto, Canada, and the Lincoln Park Zoo , Chicago, U.S.A., for permitting observations of their animals. Their assistance and generosity (allowing us to observe the animals ‘behind the scenes’ on several occasions) was very much appreciated. Thank you to Matthew Nowak for his input during analysis. Thank you to Dr. R. Corruccini and Dr. D. Sutton for their interest, suggestions, and comments on this work. And thank you to Dr. U. Reichard and an anonymous reviewer for their suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Anthropology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA

    Jacqueline M. Prime & Susan M. Ford

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  1. Jacqueline M. Prime
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  2. Susan M. Ford
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Correspondence to Jacqueline M. Prime .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA

    Ulrich H. Reichard

  2. Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan

    Hirohisa Hirai

  3. Sezione di Biodiversità Tropicale, MUSE—Museo delle Scienze, Trento, Italy

    Claudia Barelli

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Prime, J.M., Ford, S.M. (2016). Hand Manipulation Skills in Hylobatids. In: Reichard, U., Hirai, H., Barelli, C. (eds) Evolution of Gibbons and Siamang. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-5614-2_12

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