Definition

Proper noun 1. A taxonomic genus: In some biological classification systems, this name is used to categorize the siamang, a type of large, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. It is not the most commonly used genus name for this animal in modern taxonomy.

Usage Notes

• The term is a scientific, taxonomic label. It is used in formal, academic contexts like zoology, primatology, and biological classification.
• It is always capitalized () and is typically italicized in print to indicate it is a Latinized genus name.
• This classification is not universally accepted. Many modern systems place the siamang within the genus .

Examples

• In scientific literature: "Early 20th-century classifications sometimes listed the siamang under ."
• In a taxonomic discussion: "The proposal to separate the siamang into its own was based on its distinctive physical traits, such as its large size and webbed fingers."

Advanced Usage

• Binomial nomenclature: In classifications that use it, the full scientific name for the animal is , where is the species identifier.
• Taxonomic debate: The usage of this genus name illustrates how scientific classification can change as new research emerges.

Variants and Related Words

• Siamang (n): The common name for the ape itself.
• Hylobates (n): The genus name more frequently used for gibbons, including the siamang, in contemporary taxonomy.
• Gibbon (n): The family of apes (Hylobatidae) to which the siamang belongs.

Synonyms

• (As a taxonomic placement for the siamang): (in many modern classifications).

Noun

1. used in some classifications for the siamangs