What's the difference between a gibbon and a baboon?

Question

There's no punchline, it's a serious question.

Answer 1

Gibbon
Gibbons are the small apes that are grouped in the family Hylobatidae. The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates (44), Hoolock (38), Nomascus (52), and Symphalangus (50).[2][3] They occur in tropical and subtropical rainforests from northeast India to Indonesia and north to southern China, including the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java. The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is an extinct gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related to the Hoolock gibbons.[2]

Also called the lesser apes, gibbons differ from great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and humans) in being smaller, pair-bonded, in not making nests, and in certain anatomical details in which they superficially more closely resemble monkeys than the great apes do. Gibbons are masters of their primary mode of locomotion, brachiation, swinging from branch to branch distances of up to 15 m (50 ft), at speeds as much as 56 km/h (35 mph). They can also make leaps of up to 8 m (27 ft), and walk bipedally with their arms raised for balance.

One unique aspect of gibbon physiology is that the wrist is composed of a ball and socket joint, allowing for biaxial movement. This greatly reduces the amount of energy needed in the upper arm and torso, while also reducing stress on the shoulder joint. They also have long hands and feet, with a deep cleft between the first and second digits of their hands. Their fur is usually black, gray, or brownish, often with white markings on hands, feet, and face. Some species have an enlarged throat sac, which inflates and serves as a resonating chamber when the animals call. This structure is enormous in a few species, equalling the size of the animal's head.

Gibbon skulls resemble those of the great apes, with very short rostra, enlarged braincases, and large orbits that face forward. Gibbons have the typical nose of catarrhine primates with nostrils that are close together and face forward and slightly downward. They lack cheek pouches and their stomach is not sacculated. Their teeth also are similar to the great apes, with molars that are bunodont and lack lophs. The upper molars usually have a cingulum, which is sometimes large. The canines are prominent but not sexually dimorphic

Gibbons are social animals. Strongly territorial, gibbons defend their boundaries with vigorous visual and vocal displays. The vocal element, which can often be heard for long distances, consists of a duet between the mated pair, the young animals sometimes joining in. This eerie song can make them an easy find for poachers who engage in the illegal wildlife trade and in sales of body parts for use in traditional medicine.

Most species are threatened or endangered, most importantly from degradation or loss of their forest habitat. Gibbon species include the Siamang, the White-handed or Lar Gibbon, and the Hoolock gibbons. The Siamang, which is the largest of the 13 species, is distinguished by having two fingers on each hand stuck together, hence the generic and species names Symphalangus and syndactylus.

and

Baboon
The baboons are some of the largest non-hominid members of the primate order; only the Mandrill and the Drill are larger. In modern scientific use, only members of the genus Papio are called baboons, but previously the closely related Gelada (genus Theropithecus) and two species of Mandrill and Drill (genus Mandrillus) were grouped in the same genus, and these monkeys are still often referred to as baboons in everyday speech. The word "baboon" comes from "babouin", the name given to them by the French naturalist Buffon. Papio belongs to family Cercopithecidae, in subfamily Cercopithecinae.

Physiology
All baboons have long dog-like muzzles (cynocephalus = dog-head), close-set eyes, heavy powerful jaws, thick fur except on their muzzle, a short tail and rough spots on their protruding hindquarters, called ischial callosities. These callouses are nerveless, hairless pads of skin which provide for the sitting comfort of the baboon (and other Old World monkeys). Males of the Hamadryas Baboon species also have a large white mane.

There is considerable variation in size and weight depending on species, the Chacma Baboon can be 120 cm (47 inches) and weigh 40 kg (90 lb) while the biggest Guinea Baboon is 50 cm (20 inches) and weighs only 14 kg (30 lb).

In all baboon species there is pronounced sexual dimorphism, usually in size but also sometimes in colour or canine development.

Baboons are terrestrial (ground dwelling) and are found in savanna, open woodland and hills across Africa. Their diet is omnivorous, but is usually vegetarian. They are foragers and are active at irregular times throughout the day and night. They can raid human dwellings and in South Africa they have been known to prey on sheep and goats.

Their principal predators are man and the leopard, although they are tough prey for a leopard and large males will often confront them.

Baboons in captivity have been known to live up to 45 years, while in the wild their life expectancy is about 30 years.

You could get more information from the 2 links below...

Answer 2

What's A Gibbon

Answer 3

Both gibbons and baboons are catarhine primates, which means that among the Primates, they belong to the same major group as ourselves (we all have prominent noses with nostrils close together and directed downward, among other characteristics).

Baboons are monkeys of genus Papio, and they're members of family Cercophithecidae. Like other members of this family, their forelimbs are shorter than the hindlimbs, and they have a tail, although it is short. They have a "dog-like" snout and well developed facial muscles. Their ischial callosities (those brightly colored parts) are quite noticeable and are used in social and sexual displays. They're mostly terrestrial.

Gibbons belong to family Hylobatidae. They are apes (considered as "lesser apes" with respect to gorillas, chimps, orangutans and ourselves), and as such, they don't have a tail. Gibbons are arboreal brachiators, which means that they swing using their very long arms (longer than their hindlimbs) through trees.

Also, gibbons live in tropical forests in southeastern Asia, while baboons are African.

Check the links for great descriptions, info and pictures.

Answer 4

Here is my simple comparison to show their differences:
>>gibbon is an ape while a baboon is a monkey.
>>The gibbons have five - the "Y-5" molar pattern, baboons have only four in a "bilophodont" pattern.
>>gibbons have more mobile shoulder joints and arms, ribcages that are flatter front-to-back, and a shorter, less mobile spine compared to baboons.
>>gibbons are distinguished from baboon by having no tail, having an appendix, and having a more complex brain.
>>gibbon has no cheek pouches while baboon has.
>>gibbon is small while baboon is big.
>>gibbons are found in the subequatorial forests of India, Indochina, and the Malay Archipelago while baboons are found in rocky, open lands and wooded areas of Africa and Arabia (South Asia).
>>gibbons are forest dwellers and most spend at least some of the time in trees while baboons are adapted to life on the ground and avoid forests.☺

Answer 5

a gibbon is more like a monkey, long arms and legs and a slender body and live more in trees
baboons have bulkier bodies and spend more time on the ground

Answer 6

Roamin70 has it right.

Also, babboons have large sharp canines which the gibbons do not.

Babboons are more much aggressive, perhaps because of their ground-dwelling habits.

;-)

Answer 7

Gibbons are funky

Answer 8

yes a big one! for one monkeys have tails and chimpanzees do not. there is a difference in their scientific names as well but I do not know those names.

Answer 9

Baboons have no tail