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How do gibbons move through trees by brachiation?

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Illustration comparing the body plans of representative anthropoids, showing a male western lowland gorilla, a male human, a male bonobo, a female Bornean orangutan, and male and female northern white-cheeked gibbons, all labeled and depicted to scale. — primate Representative apes (superfamily Hominoidea).

Gibbons are primates that utilize a specialized form of arboreal locomotion known as true brachiation, which relies exclusively on the forelimbs for movement.12

To move through the trees, a gibbon suspends its body from a branch by its arms. The process involves a continuous, rhythmic sequence: the animal relaxes the grip of one hand, allowing its body to pivot on the shoulder of the opposite arm. As the body swings forward, the free arm reaches ahead to grasp a new branch, at which point the cycle repeats.1

This efficient method of travel is supported by specific anatomical adaptations, including:
* Elongated forelimbs: Arms that are as long as or longer than the body.13
* Highly motile shoulder joints: Allowing for the necessary range of motion during the swing.12
* Hooklike fingers: Providing a secure grip on branches.2

This pattern enables gibbons to achieve rapid and continuous forward motion through thick forest canopies.1