@snowleopard
Dear Scott Richardson,
many thanks for your kindness and generosity. I have been searching the internet for decent photographs of the siamang "Otong" in 2022 and 2023, but was unable to find a good photograph. So I was completely fascinated by your photograph. This is a really good shot! I love it.
I am just about finishing the article (it's one of several articles I am writing for a book on the role of gibbons in traditional Asian cultures. White gibbons are frequently depicted in China, but in modern times, there is no evidence for the existence of white gibbons. So I did survey the occurrence of albinism in primates, which is actually quite rare in primates, and Otong (a leucistic siamang) is the only known case of something related to albinism in gibbons. So albinism is probably not the cause for the frequent depiction of white gibbons in China.
I will be happy to use your fantastic photograph and acknowledge you as the photographer, as you suggested.
Here is the figure legend I would like to go with your photograph. I hope you are okay with it:
"Fig. 5. This male siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), named “Otong” and kept at Faunaland Ancol in Jakarta, 21 Aug 2024 does not exhibit blackish fur colouration and greyish skin like other siamangs, but shines in bright yellow and orange fur colour and exhibits pale pink skin. This siamang appears to be the only albinotic or leucistic gibbon recorded to date. Photo: Scott Richardson."
I apologize to follow-up with a question: I did not succeed to discern the eye colour of the male siamang "Otong" In any of the photographs and video clips I have seen of the animal. Can you remember whether the iris of the eyes was brown, red or blue? This information is not essential for the paper, but I assume that any reader interested in albinism would like to know that.
Many thanks, again, for your help. I am very happy to use your sharp and beautiful photograph.
That's perfect @Thomas Geissmann and I like your description. I honestly don't know the colour of "Otong's" irises and it's impossible to tell even when zooming in on the photo. My best guess would be that they are brown.
@snowleopard
Thanks for your comment on the iris colour. I will not mention this aspect in my manuscript, then. The main point is that there is a albino or leucistic siamang and I can show your wonderful photograph of this unique individual. Again, thanks a lot for your help!
With best wishes,
Thomas
