GROOMING SITE PREFERENCES IN WILD WHITE-HANDED GIBBONS (HYLOBATES-LAR)

During a four-month study of wild white-handed gibbons in Thailand one group was observed for 131 hr. The individuals spent 5.2% of their ac tivity period allogrooming. Several body sites received more respectiv ely less allogrooming than expected. Surface areas easy to clean by au togrooming such as the belly received significantly less allogrooming than expected. Upper body areas which are likely to be infested by par asites and other matter received significantly more allogrooming than lower body parts. Thus, grooming in gibbons seems to reflect a primari ly hygienic function.