Gorilla
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Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Big primate!
Gorillas have a large head, but no tail. Male gorillas are twice as large as female gorillas. Males weigh from 300-600 lbs, and females weigh from 150-300 lbs. Their arms are much larger than their legs.
Unique appearance.
The male gorillas have a prominent crest on their head. Gorillas have facial features with unique appearances and huge muscular jaws.
Habitat/Range
Central Africa in tropical secondary forest
Wild Diet
Plant leaves, stems and roots, fruits, and vegetables
Predators
Humans
Reproduction
Gorillas live in troops of 5-30 members. A silverback male stays with his troop for life and breeds with the females in his troop. Female gorillas usually start to breed at about 10 years of age, the males at 15-20 years old. Births are usually single. Newborns weigh about 4-5 pounds and they have pink skin covered with a little fur. They begin to crawl in about 9 weeks and walk in 30-40 weeks. They are weaned at 2 1/2 - 3 years of age. Females have offspring about every 4 years but the mortality rate is only 40 %.
Conservation Status
ENDANGERED
Endangered due to deforestation (which causes a severe loss of habitat) and hunting.
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