Genetic identification of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates Lar) in captivity

Nor Rahman Aifat, . and Badrul Munir Md-Zain, . Genetic identification of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates Lar) in captivity. pp. 316-326. ISSN 2672-7226

White-handed gibbons exhibit different morphological variants describing five recognized subspecies which are Hylobates lar lar Hylobates lar carpenteri Hylobates lar entelloides Hylobates lar vestitus and Hylobates lar yunnanensis. Several systematic gibbon studies are available but focus only on interspecific variation. In this study we used molecular systematics to genetically identify captive white-handed gibbon subspecies. About 674 base pairs of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene were analyzed from 12 unrelated captive lar gibbons using species-specific primers with published H. lar GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using MEGA 7. Tree topology indicates that two individuals a white-handed gibbon from Malaysias National Zoo and Taiping Zoo each grouped together with reference to a subspecies from Thailand namely H. l. carpenteri. Other white-handed gibbons from zoos and rescue centers had grouped together with the larger H. l. lar clade. The H. l. carpenteri individuals in our study were possibly introduced through gibbon trafficking or translocation from unknown sources in Thailand. Cyt b in white-handed gibbons genetic identification effectively portrays the subspecies differentiation. Genetic identification of primates in captivity is crucial especially when considering primate translocations and captive management decisions.

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Abstract

White-handed gibbons exhibit different morphological variants describing five recognized subspecies which are Hylobates lar lar Hylobates lar carpenteri Hylobates lar entelloides Hylobates lar vestitus and Hylobates lar yunnanensis. Several systematic gibbon studies are available but focus only on interspecific variation. In this study we used molecular systematics to genetically identify captive white-handed gibbon subspecies. About 674 base pairs of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene were analyzed from 12 unrelated captive lar gibbons using species-specific primers with published H. lar GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using MEGA 7. Tree topology indicates that two individuals a white-handed gibbon from Malaysias National Zoo and Taiping Zoo each grouped together with reference to a subspecies from Thailand namely H. l. carpenteri. Other white-handed gibbons from zoos and rescue centers had grouped together with the larger H. l. lar clade. The H. l. carpenteri individuals in our study were possibly introduced through gibbon trafficking or translocation from unknown sources in Thailand. Cyt b in white-handed gibbons genetic identification effectively portrays the subspecies differentiation. Genetic identification of primates in captivity is crucial especially when considering primate translocations and captive management decisions.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Primates
AGROVOC Term:	Identification
AGROVOC Term:	animal genetics
AGROVOC Term:	Captivity
AGROVOC Term:	Subspecies
AGROVOC Term:	Phylogeny
AGROVOC Term:	Mitochondrial genetics
AGROVOC Term:	Wildlife conservation
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:55
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9972

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