biology

Western grey gibbon

Western grey gibbon is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Western grey gibbon rather than just read about it. In short: The western grey gibbon (Hylobates abbotti), also known as Abbott's grey gibbon, is a primate in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae. It was named after zoologist William Louis Abbott.

Key takeaways

Western grey gibbon belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Western grey gibbon to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Western grey gibbon from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The western grey gibbon (Hylobates abbotti), also known as Abbott's grey gibbon, is a primate in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae. It was named after zoologist William Louis Abbott.

Taxonomy Formerly, the western grey gibbon and northern grey gibbon (H. funereus) were considered conspecific with the southern grey gibbon (H. muelleri), but more recent studies indicate that all three are distinct species, and both the IUCN Red List and the American Society of Mammalogists consider them such.

Distribution The western grey gibbon is endemic to the western portion of Borneo, where it is found in both Kalimantan and Sarawak. It is found north of the Kapuas River and ranges as far east as Spaoh.

Conservation This species is thought to be endangered due to heavy deforestation in Borneo, as well as increases in forest fires exacerbated by El Niño events. It is also threatened by illegal hunting and capture for the pet trade.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Western grey gibbon

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Western grey gibbon claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Western grey gibbon before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Western grey gibbon ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Western grey gibbon

In research: Western grey gibbon appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Western grey gibbon in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Western grey gibbon is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Arboreal mammals, Endangered fauna of Asia, Endemic fauna of Borneo, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Western grey gibbon outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Western grey gibbon in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Western grey gibbon means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Western grey gibbon out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Western grey gibbon in simple terms?

The western grey gibbon (Hylobates abbotti), also known as Abbott's grey gibbon, is a primate in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae. It was named after zoologist William Louis Abbott.

Why does Western grey gibbon matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Western grey gibbon?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Western grey gibbon.