A new gibbon species was discovered in southwest Asia, and scientists have named it for the famous "Star Wars" character. The researchers estimate that there are about 200 of the Skywalker gibbons living in China - and also some living in neighbouring Myanmar, although the population size there is currently unknown. "Then you have to wake up really early in the morning and you listen out for the haunting song of the gibbons, which carries in the forest canopy. It has been named the Skywalker hoolock gibbon - partly because the Chinese characters of its scientific name mean "Heaven's movement" but also because the scientists are fans of Star Wars. "The low number of surviving animals and the threat they face from habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and hunting means we think they should be classified as an endangered species," said Dr Turvey. You have to hike up to above 2,500m to find the gibbons. The genus of hoolock gibbons comprises two previously described living species, the western (Hoolock hoolock) and eastern hoolock (H. leuconedys) gibbons, geographically isolated by the Chindwin River. CONTACT Their songs, which they use to bond with other gibbons and to mark out their territory, also had an unusual ring. Hoolock includes the species Western hoolock, Eastern hoolock and Skywalker hoolock gibbon. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Samuel Turvey, a senior research fellow at ZSL and co-author of the study, said the exciting discovery of the new species is laced with sadness. But the research team - led by Fan Peng-Fei from Sun Yat-sen University in China - started to suspect that the animals they were studying in China's Yunnan Province were unusual. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. In the last of a three part blog, Dr Samuel Turvey, Senior Research Fellow at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, explains how scientists discovered the Skywalker was a new species. Newly recognised species given the name ‘Skywalker hoolock gibbon’ by the team that proved it was distinct from other Chinese gibbons Georgia Brown Wed … The species' "Star Wars"-inspired name is connected both to the gibbon's high treetop home, and the mysticism that surrounded the primate in Chinese history, according to scientists at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which collaborated on the new research. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Zoological Society of London: Institute of Zoology, US plane scatters engine debris over Denver homes. Dr Sam Turvey, from the Zoological Society of London, who was part of the team studying the apes, told BBC News: "In this area, so many species have declined or gone extinct because of habitat loss, hunting and general human overpopulation. A male Skywalker hoolock gibbon. This site remains a work in progress. Four years ago, an international team led by Chinese scientist Fan Pengfei announced that it had discovered a new species with the help of Cai Zhihong and other rangers: the Skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing). In 2017 a new species of gibbon, the Skywalker Hoolock (Hoolock tianxing), was described by science. The skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) is a recently described species which occurs between the Irrawaddy River and the Salween River in Myanmar and China (Fan et al., 2017). They have been given the scientific name of Hoolock tianxing - but their common name is now the Skywalker hoolock gibbon, thanks to the scientists' taste in films. The primate joins two other species in the genus of hoolock gibbons: the western (Hoolock hoolock) and eastern hoolock (H. leuconedys) gibbons, which are geographically separated by the Chindwin River. Video, How bushfires almost wiped out a 'cryptic' species, Three killed in Louisiana gun shop shootout, Russia sees first case of H5N8 bird flu in humans, How European businesses are adapting to Brexit, Leading Greek actor held over rape accusations, Alaska woman attacked by bear while using toilet. The new species, described in the American Journal of Primatology, has been named the Gaoligong hoolock gibbon or ‘Skywalker’ hoolock gibbon (Hoolock … NY 10036. 'Humans just want to see humans doing funny things' Video, 'Humans just want to see humans doing funny things', How bushfires almost wiped out a 'cryptic' species. Dr Turvey said the team had been studying the animals in the Gaoligongshan nature reserve, but it was not easy. It has been named the Skywalker hoolock gibbon - partly because the Chinese characters of its scientific name mean "Heaven's movement" but also because the scientists are fans of Star Wars. We get the Skywalker hoolock gibbon. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. VideoHow bushfires almost wiped out a 'cryptic' species. The study is published in the American Journal of Primatology. New York, Skywalker is the main protagonist of the film franchise. Read about our approach to external linking. No, it's not from a galaxy far, far away, but it does live in southwest China. Scientists named a new species of gibbon ape after Star Wars rebel character Luke Skywalker. The animal has been studied for some time, but new research confirms it is different from all other gibbons. So the team carried out a full physical and genetic comparison with other gibbons, which confirmed that the primates were indeed a different species. A gibbon living in the tropical forests of south west China is a new species of primate, scientists have concluded. We observed L. sclateri at four localities. In response to the news, actor Mark Hamill - the original Luke Skywalker - said on Twitter that he was so proud to have a new jungle Jedi named after his character. In studying the genetic characteristics of wild gibbons and museum specimens, the researchers determined distinct differences between the Skywalker hoolock and H. leuconedys. They spend most of their time living in the treetops, swinging through the forests with their forelimbs, rarely spending any time on the ground. Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. A new gibbon species was discovered in … However, scientists determined that the gibbons living to the east of the Irawaddy-Nmai Hka rivers are a distinct species. Unlike other gibbon species, they have thin white eyebrows and darker beards. The Honolulu-bound Boeing suffered engine failure but returned safely to Denver airport. Are streaming algorithms really damaging film? To investigate how Skywalker hoolock gibbons (Hoolock tianxing) cope with the low temperatures found in montane forests, we collected sleep‐related behavior data from one group (NA) and a single female (NB) at Nankang (characterized by extensive tsaoko plantations) between July 2010 and September 2011, and one group (BB) at Banchang (relatively well‐managed reserve forest) between May 2013 and … The team warns that the primates are at risk of extinction. … All hoolock gibbons have white eyebrows and some have white beards - but the Chinese primates' markings differed in appearance. What happens to your body in extreme heat? Israel eases restrictions following vaccine success, All UK adults to be offered vaccine by 31 July - PM. Based on interviews, we obtained 129 encounter records for L. sclateri . The Skywalker hoolock gibbons' home in the forests of the Gaoligong mountains was previously thought to be the habitat of another population of H. leuconedys. "Increased awareness of the remarkable ecosystem of the Gaoligong mountains and improved conservation is essential, to ensure we have time to get fully acquainted with this exciting new species before it's too late.". The slow rollout of Covid vaccinations in Africa. They are therefore calling for these animals to be recognised as a new species: the Gaoligong or ‘Skywalker’ hoolock gibbon (H. tianxing sp. Photo: Professor Fan … There was a problem. Hoolock gibbons are found in Bangladesh, India, China and Myanmar. "And when you hear it, you rush through the mud and the mist, and run for hundreds of metres to try and catch up with these gibbons.". "The Skywalker hoolock gibbon … faces the same grave and imminent risk to its survival as many other small ape species in southern China and Southeast Asia due to habitat loss and hunting," Turvey said in a statement. A new species of gibbon was recently discovered in the forests of Gaoligongshan, southwest China: the Skywalker hoolock gibbon. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, (Image credit: Zoological Society of London), See More Animals With "Star Wars"-Inspired Names, International Union for Conservation of Nature, 'Ice age' horse skeleton found in Utah backyard isn't what we thought, Egyptian pharaoh was executed on the battlefield, mummy reveals, Watch NASA's Perseverance rover land on Mars, Planet 9 probably doesn't exist, new paper argues, Giant 14-foot-long crocodile found with human remains in stomach. Overall, the Skywalker hoolock gibbon was found in 73 independent polygons ranging in area from 3.6 to 64.6 ha . © You will receive a verification email shortly. The species has been named Skywalker hoolock gibbon partly because the Chinese characters of its scientific name mean “Heaven’s movement” and also because the scientists are fans of Star Wars, reported the BBC. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. (Image: © Zoological Society of London) In a galaxy not so far way, there's a new Skywalker in town. The Force-sensitive moniker is a nod to the gibbons' lofty treetop home in the forests of the Gaoligong mountains in southwest China. A further new species, Hoolock tianxing, with an estimated population of about 200 in China, was discovered in southwest China in 2017. Researchers chose to name the ape the “Skywalker” hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in order to reflect its preferred home high in the forest canopy, as well as what they describe as “the historical Chinese view of them as almost mystical beings.” The force is with a new species of gibbon discovered in Southeast Asia. The discovery of the Skywalker hoolock gibbon has caused excitement across the Star Wars universe. That's where the good quality forest usually starts - everywhere below there has been logged. Species of gibbon. A new 7 minutes of terror: See the nail-biting Mars landing of NASA's Perseverance rover in this video. For instance, the Skywalker gibbons' eyebrows are thinner and farther apart, and the shape of their skulls and teeth differentiate them from the other hoolock gibbons. How Trump offered Kim a ride on Air Force One, The Irish woman who shot Benito Mussolini, 'Humans just want to see humans doing funny things' Video'Humans just want to see humans doing funny things', Inside Singapore's unusual vending machines, How bushfires almost wiped out a 'cryptic' species. [See More Animals With "Star Wars"-Inspired Names]. US plane scatters engine debris over Denver homes1, Three killed in Louisiana gun shop shootout2, Israel eases restrictions following vaccine success3, The Irish woman who shot Benito Mussolini4, All UK adults to be offered vaccine by 31 July - PM5, How Trump offered Kim a ride on Air Force One6, Russia sees first case of H5N8 bird flu in humans7, How European businesses are adapting to Brexit8, Leading Greek actor held over rape accusations9, Alaska woman attacked by bear while using toilet10. Content by Andie Ang unless otherwise stated © 2014-2020 | Andie Ang. Along with calling for the animals to be recognized as a new species, the researchers have prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to list the Skywalker gibbon as endangered. Did nuclear spy devices trigger Himalayan floods? Scientists believe that Skywalker hoolock gibbons diverged from their nearest relatives about 500,000 years ago when the waters of Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River separated them. In a separate study, the skull appendages of an extinct relative of the giraffe reminded scientists of Queen Padmé Amidala's headgear, so the researchers named the extinct animal Xenokeryx amidalae. Skywalkers are covered in short fur, nearly jet black on males and beige on females. The species of crested gibbons, whose scientific name is Nomascus, consists of the Northern buff-cheeked, Black-crested, Eastern black-crested, Hainan black-crested, Northern white-cheeked, Southern white-cheeked, and Yellow-cheeked gibbon. It was discovered stradling the border between China and Myanmar (Burma) in an isolated forest fragment known as Gaoligongshan. How about this, the species has been named the Skywalker hoolock gibbon. … Links are in blue. We describe a species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) that is new to science from eastern Myanmar and southwestern China. An adult female Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing).This species is Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. © 2021 BBC. The species of hoolock are: Western hoolock gibbon, Hoolock hoolock; Eastern hoolock gibbon, Hoolock leuconedys; Skywalker hoolock gibbon, Hoolock tianxing Adult female Skywalker hoolock gibbon They are therefore calling for these animals to be recognised as a new species: the Gaoligong or ‘Skywalker’ hoolock gibbon (H. tianxing sp. COVID-19 vaccines: What does 95% efficacy actually mean? nov.) – a Star Wars -inspired name reflecting the high treetop home of the gibbons, and … Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Like similar species that live in China and Myanmar, the so-called skywalker hoolock gibbon … (CNN) — A newly-discovered species of gibbon should be named in honor of Luke Skywalker, say the Star Wars-loving scientists who found it. It is the first gibbon species named by the Chinese, and was named after Luke Skywalker from the "Star Wars" franchise, as the scientist who found it was a big fan. "So it's an absolute privilege to see something as special and as rare as a gibbon in a canopy in a Chinese rainforest, and especially when it turns out that the gibbons are actually a new species previously unrecognised by science.". A number of other species have been named for the classic "Star Wars" movie series, from a "Chewbacca beetle" to a Jedi ant. By Rebecca MorelleScience Correspondent, BBC News. A newly discovered gibbon species, potentially on the brink of extinction, desperately needs your help! The new discovery of the Skywalker hoolock gibbon was described in a paper published online Tuesday (Jan. 10) in the American Journal of Primatology. nov.) – a Star Wars-inspired name reflecting the high treetop home of the gibbons, and the historical Chinese view of them as almost mystical beings. Also known as the "Skywalker" hoolock gibbon, it is the most endangered gibbon in the world, with less than 150 left. "It's difficult to get into the reserve. Even Luke Skywalker himself got into to … Visit our corporate site. Please refresh the page and try again. In a galaxy not so far way, there's a new Skywalker in town. 14 PHOTOS.

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