Range: Western equatorial Africa, from southern Nigeria to the Congo River.
Habitat: Tropical rainforests
Description: Gorilla hair is very thick and can be found everywhere on the body except the face, chest, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Their hair is usually black, but can vary from black to grayish-brown. Adult males develop gray on their back as they mature (called silverback). Adult male gorillas can weigh more than 400 pounds; females weigh approximately half as much. Gorillas have arms that are much longer than their legs. An average male gorilla will be under six feet in height but have an arm span of over seven feet.
Adaptations/Habitat: Gorillas can stand on their legs but prefer to walk using their hands and feet, known as knuckle walking. Gorillas have finger prints like humans and nails instead of claws. They live in a troop of females and males or all males (bachelor troop) dominated by one adult silverback.
Breeding/Growth:
Diet: Gorillas forage on a wide variety of vegetation which includes stalk, leaf and root.
Exhibit: The Forest's Edge
Notes: STATUS: Endangered.
The destruction of the rainforests and human encroachment are the primary threats to the western lowland gorilla.
