Mountain gorillas inhabit the montane cloud forest of the Virunga range. The facts above were submitted by fan Jovana.Mountain, or eastern gorillas, Gorilla beringei, are found in the Virunga volcanoes that separate the Democratic Republic of Congo from Rwanda and Uganda. The title of her famous novel is “Gorillas in the Mist”. She wrote a book for people to learn that they do not need to be afraid of gorillas and to prove that they are amicable creatures. She got to know the animals and was accepted as a member of their group. The zoologist and behavioral scientist Dian Fossey lived among gorillas for several years. Out in the wild, gorillas can get 35-40 years old, animals in captivity can reach an age of 50 years. The leader of a group is always a silverback and the oldest animal in the group. When male gorillas grow old, they develop a grayish coat on their back, the so-called “silverback”. Chimps also walk on their knuckles, just like the gorillas. They use their second and third phalanxes. Gorillas walk on their knuckles most of the time.
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However, you should not be misled – the silverback (the leader of the group) knows how to defend itself. They are the friendliest and most familial apes. In fact, Gorillas are often called gentle giants. This impression has been consolidated due to movies such as “King Kong”.
Gorilla - Photo: Joshua Minso/Shutterstockįrom here you find facts submitted by fan Jovana: Gorillas Are Considered Gentle GiantsĮven though gorillas are amicable, most people assume them to be aggressive and that they would attack and kill humans. Lemurs have their "residence" on the island of Madagascar off the southeast coast of Africa. Which Other Primates Live in Africa?Īpart from gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills and baboons live on the African continent. It is a Greek word meaning "tribe of hairy women". Fun Facts Where Does the Name Gorilla Come From? No two noses look the same! Reproductionīaby gorillas weigh about 4.4 lb (2 kg) when they are born and are breast-fed by their mother for 3-4 years. Each Gorilla Has a Unique Noseīiologists look at the gorillas` noses to identify them. A human eardrum only measures 0.096 inch2 (62 mm2). Gorilla - Photo: Eric Gevaert/Shutterstock Anatomy and Appearance Gorillas Have the Largest EardrumĮven if its ear itself appears to be small: Of all animals, gorillas have the largest eardrum. The nests usually consist of leaves, measure about 3.2 feet (1 meter) in diameter and are newly constructed every day. They build nests to have a nice and cozy place to sleep and rest. They don’t do it for their offspring, which is mostly carried on their backs. Do Gorillas Build Nests?Īmong mammals, the gorillas are the biggest animals that build nests. Read more about tool use and animal intelligence. They also use wooden planks to get across swampy soil safely. Gorillas use sticks to find out how deep a lake or river is. Mountain gorillas do not climb as much as other species. They prefer to hold on to forked branches. In the trees they climb up to 40 m high! However, they do not use their arms to swing from branch to branch like chimps. Gorillas are very good at climbing and obviously not scared of heights. They do not drink water, because the plants contain sufficient amounts of liquid. Gorillas are vegetarians and eat 40-66 lb (18-30 kg) of plants, roots, sprouts and bulbs every day. They also beat their chests to say hello or to inform another animal on their whereabouts. It does not only demonstrate to other males who is the coolest gorilla in the group. You can hear it at distances of nearly 0.62 miles (1 km). Gorilla - Photo: paula french/Shutterstock Behavior Why Do Gorillas Beat Their Chest?īeating their chests is probably the best-known behavior of Gorillas. But in the end, humans are a much bigger threat as they destroy the gorilla’s habitat when clearing the woods. Only leopards can be dangerous for the little babies. If you don’t harm me, I don’t harm you! Gorillas hardly have any enemies. Enemies and Threats Do Gorillas Have Enemies? All gorilla species are considered "critically endangered" by the IUCN. Eastern Lowland Gorilla and Mountain Gorilla. And there are four subspecies: Western Lowland Gorilla, Cross River Gorilla. There are two species: the Western Gorilla and the Eastern Gorilla. These include orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos. Gorillas are diurnal and inhabit forests, mountain forests and swamps in various African countries such as Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Gabu, Uganda and Ruanda. They are often portrayed as aggressive, but are in fact very peaceful animals. They feed exclusively on leaves and are known for chest-beating with cupped hands. Gorillas are the world's largest primates.
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