Hoolock Research Articles

A presumptive new hylobatid subgenus with 38 chromosomes.

The gibbon <i>Hylobates hoolock </i>has been found to possess a karyotype different in diploid number and banding pattern from that of any other hylobatid. We propose that the hoolock gibbon occupy its own subgenus in the genus <i>Hylobates.</i>

A phylogeny of gibbons (Hylobates spp.) based on morphological and behavioural characters.

A new estimate of the phylogenetic relationships among the nine gibbon taxa is presented, based on a compatibility analysis of 55 morphological and behavioural characters. The phylogeny presented here differs somewhat from those of other studies, but there appears to be a basic consensus that: the siamang and concolor gibbons represent the earliest forms to speciate; the agile, lar, moloch, Müller's, and pileated gibbons represent the lates forms to speciate; with the Kloss and hoolock gibbons representing intermediate forms. Although the hypotheses regarding the evolutionary direction of these characters remain subjective due to the lack of gibbons in the fossil record, the method used is totally objective in its approach and is repeatable when further data become available.

Comparison of the A-B-H blood group specificities and M-N blood types in man, gibbons (Hylobates), and siamangs (Symphalangus).

Bloods from a total of 57 gibbons (52 Hylobates lar lar, four Hylobates lar pileatus, and one Hylobates hoolock) and two siamang apes (Symphalangus brachytanites) have been tested for human‐type A‐B‐H, M‐N, and Rh‐Hr blood factors. Croups A, B, and AB have been identified in these apes but not group O, and three types corresponding to the human types M, N and MN have been found. All the apes tested gave reactions corresponding to type rh. Tests with anti‐H lectin on gibbon red cells showed a very strong association of this blood factor with red cells of group B, in contrast to the situation in man where factor H is strongly associated with groups O and A2. Corresponding to each of the human agglutinogens M and N are multiple different antisera of specificities anti‐M and anti‐N, of which only particular reagents can be used for M‐N typing of gibbons blood. Findings are also described which demonstrate the usefulness of lectins for A1, H and N blood factors in studies on individual blood differences in man and other primates, as well as of certain bean extracts for demonstrating species‐specific differences among primates.

Ape Resemblances to Man

THE Zoological Society can hardly fail to derive decided material advantage from the publication of Mr. Darwin's “Descent of Man.” It has been said that already there is a perceptible increase in the visitors to the monkey-house, though an early spring has no doubt co-operated with scientific zeal in the promotion of pilgrimages to the Regent's Park, undertaken in the interest of a more than Chinese worship of ancestors. These visits would, perhaps, be considerably increased if it were very widely known that a fine specimen of a closely-related structural ally was there to be seen and heard, and one the resemblance of which to us has, 1 venture to think, not been generally appreciated sufficiently. I allude to the fine specimen of the Hoolock Gibbon which has been some time at the Gardens, and which appears to rejoice in good health, good temper, and good voice.