Physical Characteristics, Adaptations for Survival, & Behaviour
The western lowland gorilla has dark brown to black fur and black skin. Facial features include a prominent brow ridge (the eyebrows and forehead), small eyes and ears, large nostrils and short muzzles (the chin and mouth). Gorillas have broad, flat, strong teeth and large jaw muscles.
Coarse black to brown hair covers the body except for the face, hands and feet. The hair of mature males from shoulders to rump grows light gray with age giving them the nickname "silverback."
Males have an enlarged sagittal crest, which is a bone ridge on the top of the cranium. This is a bone that runs from the front to the back of the skull, and it supports the jaw muscles.
Males can grow up to 165 centimeters (5 feet 5 inches), and weigh up to 200 kilograms (450 pounds). Females can grow up to 135 centimeters (4 feet 5 inches tall) , and weigh up to 115 kilograms (250 pounds).
Gorillas live in groups called “bands” in the African jungle, that consist of one dominant male, called the alpha male, and multiple females and their offspring. Sometimes, the band might have more than one silverback and multiple males. A band usually has eight gorillas in it, but it can occasionally go up to 20.
The western lowland gorilla has dark brown to black fur and black skin. Facial features include a prominent brow ridge (the eyebrows and forehead), small eyes and ears, large nostrils and short muzzles (the chin and mouth). Gorillas have broad, flat, strong teeth and large jaw muscles.
Coarse black to brown hair covers the body except for the face, hands and feet. The hair of mature males from shoulders to rump grows light gray with age giving them the nickname "silverback."
Males have an enlarged sagittal crest, which is a bone ridge on the top of the cranium. This is a bone that runs from the front to the back of the skull, and it supports the jaw muscles.
Males can grow up to 165 centimeters (5 feet 5 inches), and weigh up to 200 kilograms (450 pounds). Females can grow up to 135 centimeters (4 feet 5 inches tall) , and weigh up to 115 kilograms (250 pounds).
Gorillas live in groups called “bands” in the African jungle, that consist of one dominant male, called the alpha male, and multiple females and their offspring. Sometimes, the band might have more than one silverback and multiple males. A band usually has eight gorillas in it, but it can occasionally go up to 20.
Any gorilla, or anything, that challenges him will show his physical power. He may throw things, make aggressive charges, pound his chest, make barking sounds, or roar loudly.
Habitat
Western low land gorilla's live in tropical forests, swamp forests, clearings, and forest edges in the African countries of Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cabinda (Angola), and possibly Democratic Republic of Congo, although it is likely they are extinct there.
Gorillas build nests for both day and night night nests consist of branches and leaves; day nests provide a question on the ground.
Western low land gorilla's live in tropical forests, swamp forests, clearings, and forest edges in the African countries of Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cabinda (Angola), and possibly Democratic Republic of Congo, although it is likely they are extinct there.
Gorillas build nests for both day and night night nests consist of branches and leaves; day nests provide a question on the ground.
Life Cycle
Unlike some animals, gorillas do not have a breeding season. Usually only the dominant silverback mail gets to breed, but sometimes a troop is led by multiple younger males called Black Box do you to the lack of silver coloration on their back.m
Females have a gestation period of 8.5 months and nurture their young for several years. Generally, females give birth to one baby every 4 to 6 years. This slow population growth makes it harder for the gorillas to recover from any population decline.
Young gorillas are weaned after 36 to 48 months. Males reach reproductive maturity in 6 to 11 years, and females in 6 to 8 years. When mature, both genders leave their group, or band, to find another band.
Unlike some animals, gorillas do not have a breeding season. Usually only the dominant silverback mail gets to breed, but sometimes a troop is led by multiple younger males called Black Box do you to the lack of silver coloration on their back.m
Females have a gestation period of 8.5 months and nurture their young for several years. Generally, females give birth to one baby every 4 to 6 years. This slow population growth makes it harder for the gorillas to recover from any population decline.
Young gorillas are weaned after 36 to 48 months. Males reach reproductive maturity in 6 to 11 years, and females in 6 to 8 years. When mature, both genders leave their group, or band, to find another band.
Diet
Western low land gorilla is eat more than 200 types of plants including fruits such as bananas or mangoes, flowers, shoots, bamboo, flower or plant bulbs, bark, and leaves. They also eat invertebrates, like ants and termites. When gorillas eat termites they will break open a termite nest and eat the larvae, sometimes using a stick.
An adult male gorilla may consume more than 18 kilograms, or 40 pounds, of vegetation per day. Gorillas rarely drink water in the wild, because they consume very juicy, or succulent, vegetation that is comprised of almost half water, as well as the morning dew. When gorillas do you drink water, it has been documented that they use for hair on the back of their hands to absorb, or soak up, water and then suck it up.
Gorillas can use their incredible strength to break apart vegetation or their food. An adult male, for example, can shred a part a whole banana tree to get to the tender middle part.
Gorillas are very selective foragers. They usually only eat parts of vegetation. For example, they may eat only the leaves or roots of a particular plant. They use their agile lips and hand dexterity to manipulate the vegetation for the particular part they want to eat.
Western low land gorilla's have the largest home range of the four gorilla sub species due to their dependence on seasonal fruit. They spend most of their time on the ground although the young we spent some time in the lower canopy wall foraging.
Western low land gorilla is eat more than 200 types of plants including fruits such as bananas or mangoes, flowers, shoots, bamboo, flower or plant bulbs, bark, and leaves. They also eat invertebrates, like ants and termites. When gorillas eat termites they will break open a termite nest and eat the larvae, sometimes using a stick.
An adult male gorilla may consume more than 18 kilograms, or 40 pounds, of vegetation per day. Gorillas rarely drink water in the wild, because they consume very juicy, or succulent, vegetation that is comprised of almost half water, as well as the morning dew. When gorillas do you drink water, it has been documented that they use for hair on the back of their hands to absorb, or soak up, water and then suck it up.
Gorillas can use their incredible strength to break apart vegetation or their food. An adult male, for example, can shred a part a whole banana tree to get to the tender middle part.
Gorillas are very selective foragers. They usually only eat parts of vegetation. For example, they may eat only the leaves or roots of a particular plant. They use their agile lips and hand dexterity to manipulate the vegetation for the particular part they want to eat.
Western low land gorilla's have the largest home range of the four gorilla sub species due to their dependence on seasonal fruit. They spend most of their time on the ground although the young we spent some time in the lower canopy wall foraging.
Threats to Habitat
The Western Lowland Gorilla is on the Critically Endangered Species List, because 80% of the population has disappeared over 3 generations. One generation = ~22 years. 80% is the same as saying 8 out of 10 gorillas have disappeared.
Threats to the gorilla re illegal hunting or poaching, disease, and habitat loss.
Gorilla numbers in the wild are declining at a rapid rate, due to disease, loss of habitat, and poaching. Ebola virus, otherwise known as hemorrhagic fever, and the commercial bushmeat trade, along with habitat loss and poaching are the main causes behind gorilla debts. The loss of their forest habitat is a twofold threat since habitat loss also brings hungry people who hunt gorillas for bushmeat.
Poaching has not ceased, or stopped, even with anti-poaching efforts.
The Western Lowland Gorilla is on the Critically Endangered Species List, because 80% of the population has disappeared over 3 generations. One generation = ~22 years. 80% is the same as saying 8 out of 10 gorillas have disappeared.
Threats to the gorilla re illegal hunting or poaching, disease, and habitat loss.
Gorilla numbers in the wild are declining at a rapid rate, due to disease, loss of habitat, and poaching. Ebola virus, otherwise known as hemorrhagic fever, and the commercial bushmeat trade, along with habitat loss and poaching are the main causes behind gorilla debts. The loss of their forest habitat is a twofold threat since habitat loss also brings hungry people who hunt gorillas for bushmeat.
Poaching has not ceased, or stopped, even with anti-poaching efforts.