中国长臂猿科动物的分类和保护现状

根据最新的长臂猿科分类系统和近年来开展的多次长臂猿调查,本文对我国长臂猿科的分类和保护进行了全面的回顾和综述,将为以后中国长臂猿的研究和保护提供基础资料。长臂猿科(Hylobatidae) 分为4 个属(Nomascus,Symphalangus,Hylobates, Hoolock ) 17 个种,其中我国分布有3 属6 种: 西黑冠长臂猿(N. concolor)、东黑冠长臂猿(N. nasutus)、海南长臂猿(N.hainanus)、北白颊长臂猿(N. leucogenys)、东白眉长臂猿(Hoolock leuconedys)和白掌长臂猿(Hylobates lar)。长臂猿曾经广泛分布于我国大部分地区,受栖息地丧失、退化和猎杀等因素的影响,目前长臂猿仅分布于云南、广西和海南等地。我国长臂猿的保护形势十分严峻,白掌长臂猿和北白颊长臂猿可能已经从中国消失;东黑冠长臂猿和海南长臂猿的数量都不足30 只,接近灭绝边缘;东白眉长臂猿的数量不足200 只;即使是数量最多的西黑冠长臂猿,其数量也仅有1 000 至1 300 只。严格执法、意识教育、科普宣传、长期的科学研究将有利于我国的长臂猿保护。     

A complete species-level phylogeny of the Hylobatidae based on mitochondrial ND3-ND4 gene sequences

The Hylobatidae (gibbons) are among the most endangered primates and their evolutionary history and systematics remain largely unresolved. We have investigated the species-level phylogenetic relationships among hylobatids using 1257 bases representing all species and an expanded data set of up to 2243 bases for select species from the mitochondrial ND3-ND4 region. Sequences were obtained from 34 individuals originating from all 12 recognized extant gibbon species. These data strongly support each of the four previously recognized clades or genera of gibbons, Nomascus, Bunopithecus, Symphalangus, and Hylobates, as monophyletic groups. Among these clades, there is some support for either Bunopithecus or Nomascus as the most basal, while in all analyses Hylobates appears to be the most recently derived. Within Nomascus, Nomascus sp. cf. nasutus is the most basal, followed by N. concolor, and then a clade of N. leucogenys and N. gabriellae. Within Hylobates, H. pileatus is the most basal, while H. moloch and H. klossii clearly, and H. agilis and H. muelleri likely form two more derived monophyletic clades. The segregation of H. klossii from other Hylobates species is not supported by this study. The present data are (1) consistent with the division of Hylobatidae into four distinct clades, (2) provide the first genetic evidence for all the species relationships within Nomascus, and (3) call for a revision of the current relationships among the species within Hylobates. We propose a phylogenetic tree as a working hypothesis against which intergeneric and interspecific relationships can be tested with additional genetic, morphological, and behavioral data.     

中国长臂猿的分布(英文)

中国南部分布着3种长臂猿,它们是白眉长臂猿(Hylobates hoolock)、白掌长臂猿(H.lar)和黑冠长臂猿(H.concolor)。黑冠长臂猿在我国境内有3个亚种:指名亚种(H.c.concolor),白颊亚种(H.c.leucogenys)和海南亚种(H.c.hainanus)。这些种类目前只分布在云南和广东的海南岛,但在五十年代初也生活在广西的西南部。这些地区是长臂猿属分布区的东北边界。 同它们在中南半岛的地理特征相一致,中国的3种长臂猿的分布区不相重迭,以两条大江为界。白眉长臂猿栖居在云南怒江以西,白掌长臂猿生活在怒江与澜沧江之间地带,黑冠长臂猿占据澜沧江以东。但是有一处,即黑冠长臂猿的云南保山瓦窑分布点例外,该地的标本收藏在动物研究所。 对于黑冠长臂猿海南亚种的文献记述存在不确切之处。现有较多的标本表明,海南亚种的雌性个体头冠部具有界限明显的黑色大斑块;成年雌性个体背毛呈浅棕灰色或较鲜亮的赭黄色;背中部毛较长,在40—75毫米之间。 我们所研究的标本收藏在以下单位:纽约美国自然历史博物馆,北京自然博物馆,芝加哥福地自然历史博物馆,复旦大学生物系,中国科学院动物研究所,广州华南濒危动物研究所,上海自然博物馆,上海动物园(活体),中山大学生物系。     

滇南、滇东南黑冠长臂猿分布与数量

滇南、滇东南曾是黑冠长臂猿广泛分布的地区之一。为掌握该地区近年黑冠长臂猿分布及种群数量现状,从2003年7月~2004年12月,采用访问调查及利用鸣声定位法进行了实地调查。调查结果显示,在近40000km2的范围内,东黑冠长臂猿(Nomascussp.cf.nasutus)在云南境内可能已消失;西黑冠长臂猿(N.concolor)亦仅发现4~7个种群,且孤立分布于3个地区(金平芭蕉河2群6只,金平西隆山1-2群,绿春黄连山1~3群,总计不超过25只),而在江城牛倮河自然保护区、马关古林箐自然保护区、麻栗坡老君山自然保护区及屏边大围山自然保护区可能已绝迹。滇南、滇东南黑冠长臂猿分布区缩小及种群数量剧减,主要与栖息地丧失及过度捕猎有关。     

Social structure and group dynamics of the Cao Vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) in Bangliang, Jingxi, China

The Cao Vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) was rediscovered in 2002 in Vietnam and then in 2006 in China. This is the only known population with about 110 individuals located along the China-Vietnam border. Little is known about it other than its population size and distribution. We describe the social structure and group dynamics of the Cao Vit gibbons in China based on 2 years of monitoring from 2007 to 2009. Four established study groups at this site consisted of 1 adult male, 2 adult females and 2-6 offspring. Two juveniles in 2 groups disappeared during the research. Four infants were born in 3 groups from November 2008 to February 2009. In 2 of the groups, both adult females had dependent infants. These observations suggest that Cao Vit gibbons live in polygynous groups, contrary to the usual monogamous group with only 1 adult female, but nevertheless similar to the social organization of both N. concolor and N. hainanus. We observed a coordinated dispersal of 1 adult male and 2 large juveniles, and the male formed a pair with a newly arrived female. Our observations support a growing awareness of variability in gibbon social organization.     

Karyotypic study of four gibbon forms provisionally considered as subspecies of Hylobates (Nomascus) concolor (Primates, Hylobatidae)

We report here a karyotypic study of 6 individuals of Hylobates concolor leucogenys, 2H, concolor siki, 3H, concolor gabriellae, 1 hybrid H, concolor leucogenys x H. concolor ski, 3 hybrid H. concolor gabriellae x H. concolor siki and 2 hybrid H. concolor hainanus x H. concolor leucogenys. Difficulties raised by the morphological identification of subspecies are discussed, and a new morphological characteristic for recognising female H. concolor gabriellae is described. Each of the 4 subspecies appears to be distinguishable on the basis of its karyotype: H. concolor leucogenys differs from H. concolor siki by a reciprocal translocation, from H. concolor hainanus by a pericentric inversion and from H. concolor gabriellae by the presence of both of these two rearrangements. However, these data do not allows us to identify a phylogenetic relationship between the subspecies because, with respect to the karyotypes, none occupies an ancestral position in comparison with the others.     

黑长臂猿的分布、现状与保护

黑长臂猿 (Hylobates concolor)是现生 1 1种长臂猿中其系统地位最低的灵长类。历史时期长臂猿曾广泛分布在我国南部的大部省区。自公元 4世纪以来 ,它们的分布发生了很大变化。分布区从北到南 ,从东到西急剧缩小 ,现黑长臂猿缩小到只在海南岛、云南南部和越南北部 ,已分化为 6个亚种。分布于我国的 5亚种中 ,海南亚种 (H . c. hainanus)现今仅20余只 ,是最濒危的一个亚种 ;.北部湾亚种 (H.c.nasutus) 50年代曾在广西西南部发现 ,60 -70年代已绝迹 ;指名亚种 (H.c.concolor)主要分布于越南北部、滇南和滇中哀牢山。滇南约有100余只 ,滇中哀牢山可能有40 - 60群 ,180 - 240只 ;景东亚种 (H . c. jingdongensis)为滇中无量山的特有亚种 ,现有100 - 116群 ,430 - 500只 ;滇西亚种 (H . c. furvogaster) ,只分布在滇西南的沧源、镇康、云县和耿马等地 ,约有 2 6-42群 ,100 - 150只。现今 ,黑长臂猿的分布区已不足1000Km2 ,总数量约1000只 ,为高度濒危的灵长类动物。造成黑长臂猿濒危的主要原因是 :热带和南亚热带原始森林的被破坏和缩小、人类活动的干扰使生境破碎和恶化、过度猎捕和长臂猿自身的生物学弱点。目前 ,中国的黑长臂猿已在 9个自然保护区中得到保护。     

Taxonomy,distribution, and status of gibbons (Hylobates) in Southern China and adjacent areas

Gibbons are small and arboreal apes restricted to southeastern tropical and southern subtropical regions in Asia. They are distributed from Assam in the northwest, eastward to south China and Vietnam, south through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and the Mentawai Islands. Twenty-two genetically distinct populations of gibbons are generally recognized. Gibbons were once widely distributed in China; however, they are now primarily restricted to southern and southwestern Yunnan and Hainan Island. Their widest distribution and greatest species diversity is in Yunnan Province. Gibbons are rare in China and are now listed as a first class endangered species. Four gibbon species inhabit Yunnan Province in southern China. They areH. hoolock, H. lar, H. leucogenys, andH. concolor. There are three subspecies ofH. leucogenys: H. l. leucogenys, H. l. siki, andH. l. gabriellae. OnlyH. l. leucogenys inhabits China. Four subspecies ofH. concolor inhabit China. These areH. c. concolor, H. c. jingdongensis, H. c. furvogaster, andH. c. hainanus. The first three subspecies inhabit Yunnan andH. c. hainanus is found only on Hainan Island.H. lar yunnanensis is the subspecies ofH. lar in southern China.H. hoolock leucogenys is the subspecies ofH. hoolock in southern China.H. concolor jingdongensis, H. concolor furvogaster, andH. lar yunnanensis are all newly proposed subspecies byMa andWang (1986). The data on southern China gibbons presented here is based on an analysis of the skeletons and skins of 49 specimens held at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan.     

Patterns of genetic variation within and between Gibbon species

Gibbons are small, arboreal, highly endangered apes that are understudied compared with other hominoids. At present, there are four recognized genera and approximately 17 species, all likely to have diverged from each other within the last 5-6 My. Although the gibbon phylogeny has been investigated using various approaches (i.e., vocalization, morphology, mitochondrial DNA, karyotype, etc.), the precise taxonomic relationships are still highly debated. Here, we present the first survey of nuclear sequence variation within and between gibbon species with the goal of estimating basic population genetic parameters. We gathered ~60 kb of sequence data from a panel of 19 gibbons representing nine species and all four genera. We observe high levels of nucleotide diversity within species, indicative of large historical population sizes. In addition, we find low levels of genetic differentiation between species within a genus comparable to what has been estimated for human populations. This is likely due to ongoing or episodic gene flow between species, and we estimate a migration rate between Nomascus leucogenys and N. gabriellae of roughly one migrant every two generations. Together, our findings suggest that gibbons have had a complex demographic history involving hybridization or mixing between diverged populations.     

A comparative study of crested gibbons (Nomascus)

Crested gibbons (Nomascus) are in the rarest genus of the family Hylobatidae, with the Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) being the rarest primate in the world. In the past, the number of species in this genus has been at the center of much controversy, in part, because their color changes during immaturity as well as other factors, such as physical similarities in genitalia, creating difficulties in accurately determining the sex of individuals. Furthermore, owing to their rarity, illusiveness, and the rough terrain that comprises their native habitat, Nomascus is one of the least studied Hylobatidae. This article represents the most comprehensive dissemination of visual characteristics of the genus Nomascus to assist in the accurate identification of captive and wild crested gibbons. Through differences in pelage color, skeletal anatomy, dentition, vocalizations, behavior, distribution, and genetic studies, we are able to determine more accurately whether or not a subspecies should be elevated to species level. From the current data, there are six species and one subspecies in the genus Nomascus. However, reports of a recently identified light-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus sp.) in northeast Cambodia, Central Vietnam, and South Lao PDR, will add additional taxa to this genus.     

Species identification of crested gibbons(Nomascus) in captivity in China using karyotyping-and PCR-based approaches

Gibbons and siamangs(Hylobatidae) are wel-known for their rapid chromosomal evolution, which has resulted in high speciation rate within the family. On the other hand, distinct karyotypes do not prevent speciation,allowing interbreeding between individuals in captivity,and the unwanted hybrids are ethical y problematic as al gibbon species are endangered or critical y endangered.Thus, accurate species identification is crucial for captive breeding, particularly in China where studbooks are unavailable. Identification based on external morphology is difficult, especially for hybrids, because species are usually similar in appearance. In this study, we employed G-banding karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) as well as a PCR-based approach to examine karyotypic characteristics and identify crested gibbons of the genus Nomascus from zoos and nature reserves in China. We characterized and identified five karyotypes from 21 individuals of Nomascus. Using karyotypes and mitochondrial and nuclear genes, we identified three purebred species and three hybrids, including one F2 hybrid between N.gabriellae and N. siki. Our results also supported that N. leucogenys and N. siki shared the same inversion on chromosome 7, which resolves arguments from previous studies. Our results demonstrated that both karyotyping and DNA-based approaches were suitable for identifying purebred species, though neither was ideal for hybrid identification. The advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are discussed. Our results further highlight the importance of animal ethics and welfare,which are critical for endangered species in captivity.     

Vocal Diversity and Taxonomy of Nomascus in Cambodia

It is usually thought that Nomascus gabriellae is the only Nomascus sp. in Cambodia. We studied vocal diversity among different wild populations of Nomascus in Cambodia to assess their taxonomic relationships and to examine whether their vocal patterns correspond to forms previously described for Nomascus leucogenys siki and Nomascus gabriellae. We tape-recorded crested gibbon songs in southern Mondulkiri Province, in central Rattanakiri Province, and in 2 different districts of the Virachey National Park in northern Rattanakiri. We also tape-recorded typical songs of Nomascus leucogenys siki near the type locality of the taxon in the Bach Ma National Park in central Vietnam. We analyzed 40 song bouts from different gibbon groups, including 151 phrases of 33 females and 235 phrases of 39 males. Discriminant analyses revealed marked separation of the most southern songs (Mondulkiri) from those of all other localities. Vocal differences among the 3 gibbon populations in northeast Cambodia (Rattanakiri) are less pronounced; they do not differ more among each other than each of them differs from the northernmost sample from Bach Ma (Vietnam). Vocal characteristics of the study populations revealed no cline, and populations do not differ significantly in vocal variability. We conclude that Cambodian crested gibbons represent 2 distinct taxa: Those from southern Mondulkiri are Nomascus gabriellae, those from northeast Cambodia (Rattanakiri) closely correspond to the sample from Bach Ma (Vietnam) and, together with the latter, represent a different taxon. We provisionally assign them to Nomascus leucogenys siki because of the close geographic distance between Bach Ma and the type locality of the taxon. We postulate that a taxonal boundary exists between southern Mondulkiri and central Rattanakiri and discuss the possible factors that may have acted as distribution barriers.     

A phylogenetic study of the gibbons (Hylobates) using DNA obtained noninvasively from hair.

Variation in a 252-nucleotide segment of the cytochrome b gene from 26 gibbons is described. DNA was extracted from hair, amplified, and directly sequenced. These sequences represent seven of the nine nominal species and three of the four hylobatid subgenera. Variation was observed at 55 sites, 42 of which are phylogenetically informative. Levels of transitional and transversional divergence between the taxa are similar to those reported for homologous mtDNA sequences in other mammals. Parsimony, maximum likelihood, and bootstrap analyses (1) support some traditional phylogenetic hypotheses (monophyly of the concolor gibbons), (2) suggest previously unrecognized affinities between the lar species group and Hylobates klossi and between H. lar and H. agilis unko, and (3) show that this segment does not contain information sufficient for completely resolving gibbon relationships at the subgeneric level. The study demonstrates the great potential of noninvasive DNA sampling for phylogenetic analyses of mammals.     

A high-resolution map of synteny disruptions in gibbon and human genomes

Gibbons are part of the same superfamily (Hominoidea) as humans and great apes, but their karyotype has diverged faster from the common hominoid ancestor. At least 24 major chromosome rearrangements are required to convert the presumed ancestral karyotype of gibbons into that of the hominoid ancestor. Up to 28 additional rearrangements distinguish the various living species from the common gibbon ancestor. Using the northern white-cheeked gibbon (2n = 52) (Nomascus leucogenys leucogenys) as a model, we created a high-resolution map of the homologous regions between the gibbon and human. The positions of 100 synteny breakpoints relative to the assembled human genome were determined at a resolution of about 200 kb. Interestingly, 46% of the gibbon–human synteny breakpoints occur in regions that correspond to segmental duplications in the human lineage, indicating a common source of plasticity leading to a different outcome in the two species. Additionally, the full sequences of 11 gibbon BACs spanning evolutionary breakpoints reveal either segmental duplications or interspersed repeats at the exact breakpoint locations. No specific sequence element appears to be common among independent rearrangements. We speculate that the extraordinarily high level of rearrangements seen in gibbons may be due to factors that increase the incidence of chromosome breakage or fixation of the derivative chromosomes in a homozygous state.     

Phylogeny and distribution of crested gibbons (genus Nomascus) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence data

Crested gibbons, genus Nomascus, are endemic to the Indochinese bioregion and occur only in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and southern China. However, knowledge about the number of species to be recognized and their exact geographical distributions is still limited. To further elucidate the evolutionary history of crested gibbon species and to settle their distribution ranges, we analyzed the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 79 crested gibbon individuals from known locations. Based on our findings, crested gibbons should be classified into seven species. Within N. concolor, we recognize two subspecies, N. concolor concolor and N. concolor lu. Phylogenetic reconstructions indicate that the northernmost species, N. hainanus, N. nasutus, and N. concolor branched off first, suggesting that the genus originated in the north and successively migrated to the south. The most recent splits within Nomascus occurred between N. leucogenys and N. siki, and between Nomascus sp. and N. gabriellae. Based on our data, the currently postulated distributions of the latter four species have to be revised. Our study shows that molecular methods are a useful tool to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among crested gibbons and to determine species boundaries. Am. J. Primatol. 72:1047–1054, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Vocal responses of captive gibbon groups to a mate change in a pair of white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys)

The singing behaviour of 3 pairs of white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) held at the Perth Zoo was observed for 6 months in 2005. These groups included a family (mated pair and 2 immature offspring) and a pair without offspring. During the study, the female without offspring was exchanged for an unpaired female from New Zealand. After the new pair had been released onto the island enclosure and began to duet, the duetting rate of the white-cheeked gibbon family increased. The increased singing began after the new female had started to sing solo female great calls. These observations support the hypothesis that duets have an intergroup communication function in white-cheeked gibbons. The pair that duetted most frequently also copulated most frequently but allogroomed the least. We suggest that duetting may be more important to intergroup relations than to pair bond maintenance in this species.     

Molecular evidence for species-level distinctions in clouded leopards

Among the 37 living species of Felidae, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is generally classified as a monotypic genus basal to the Panthera lineage of great cats. This secretive, mid-sized (16-23 kg) carnivore, now severely endangered, is traditionally subdivided into four southeast Asian subspecies (Figure 1A). We used molecular genetic methods to re-evaluate subspecies partitions and to quantify patterns of population genetic variation among 109 clouded leopards of known geographic origin (Figure 1A, Tables S1 ans S2 in the Supplemental Data available online). We found strong phylogeographic monophyly and large genetic distances between N. n. nebulosa (mainland) and N. n. diardi (Borneo; n = 3 individuals) with mtDNA (771 bp), nuclear DNA (3100 bp), and 51 microsatellite loci. Thirty-six fixed mitochondrial and nuclear nucleotide differences and 20 microsatellite loci with nonoverlapping allele-size ranges distinguished N. n. nebulosa from N. n. diardi. Along with fixed subspecies-specific chromosomal differences, this degree of differentiation is equivalent to, or greater than, comparable measures among five recognized Panthera species (lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard). These distinctions increase the urgency of clouded leopard conservation efforts, and if affirmed by morphological analysis and wider sampling of N. n. diardi in Borneo and Sumatra, would support reclassification of N. n. diardi as a new species (Neofelis diardi).     

Phylogenetic Relationships among Asian species of Petaurista (Rodentia, Sciuridae), Inferred from Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among four species belonging to the genus Petaurista (P. alborufus castaneus, P. alborufus lena, P. leucogenys leucogenys, P. leucogenys nikkonis, P. petaurista melanotus, and P. philippensis grandis), we investigated the partial sequences (1,068 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for these giant flying squirrels. Phylogenetic trees (NJ, MP, and ML trees) constructed from cytochrome b sequences indicated that P. leucogenys was grouped independently with other species, and that P. philippensis was most closely related to P. petaurista with 99-100% bootstrap values. In addition, two subspecies of P. alborufus did not form a single clade: P. alborufus castaneus from China was most distantly related to the other species, whereas P. alborufus lena from Taiwan was closely related to P. petaurista and P. philippensis with 82-90% bootstrap values. This result suggests that it is reasonable to regard P. alborufus lena as a distinct species from P. alborufus castaneus.     

Effects of food and topography on ranging behavior of black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) in Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China

We studied the ranging behavior of a habituated group of black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) in a high, seasonal habitat on Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China, between March 2005 and April 2006. Our results indicated that the total home range size for the study group was 129 ha, or 151 ha if the lacunae within the borders in which gibbons were not observed were included. This is a much bigger range size than that of other gibbon species. However, 69.7% of their activities occurred within 29 ha. The intensity of quadrant use was significantly correlated with the distribution of important food patches. The mean yearly daily path length was 1,391 m. Gibbons traveled farther when they spent more time feeding on fruit. To avoid often passing through ridges with little food, gibbons usually stayed in the same valley for successive days, and then moved on to another valley for another several days, which resulted in a concentrated ranging pattern.     

Zoogeography of Vietnamese primates

Based on geographic complementarity of congeneric taxa, the 22 species or well-defined subspecies of primates that inhabit Vietnam may be allocated to nine zoogeographic groups (lorises, two; macaques, three; langurs, three; gibbons, one). Analysis of group distributions reveals two major patterns: (1) four of the six non-macaque groups are essentially restricted to the eastern part of the Indochinese Peninsula, east of the Mekong River; and (2) species and subspecies in seven of the nine groups reach their northern or southern limits of distribution in central Vietnam, at 14–17‡N. The first pattern suggests that the Mekong River has been an important barrier to westward dispersal of nonmacaque primates in continental Southeast Asia. The second pattern suggests that a Zoogeographic barrier formerly extended east and west across Vietnam at ca. 14–17‡N.