Nomascus is the second-most speciose genus of the gibbon family, Hylobatidae. Originally, this genus was a subgenus of Hylobates, with all individuals considered to be one species, H. concolor.
Species within Nomascus are characterized by 52 chromosomes. Some species are all-black, some are a lighter beige or peach hue, with a distinct black tuft of crown fur, while others have notable, light-colored cheek “patches”. Nomascus is endemic from southern China (Yunnan) to southern Vietnam, and can also be found on Hainan. Every species within this genus are either endangered or critically endangered; the Eastern black crested gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) has been deemed "the most-critically endangered ape species in the world".[2]
^Thomas Geissmann (April 2007). "Status reassessment of the gibbons: Results of the Asian Primate Red List Workshop 2006". Gibbon Journal (3).
^Van Ngoc Thinh; Alan R. Mootnick; Vu Ngoc Thanh; Tilo Nadler; Christian Roos (2010). "A new species of crested gibbon, from the central Annamite mountain range". Vietnamese Journal of Primatology. 1 (4): 1–12.
