Types of gorillas

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 11 February 2021
Update Date: 5 November 2024
Anonim
Types of Gorillas
Video: Types of Gorillas

Content

the gorilla is the biggest primate in the world, in comparison with the more than 300 species of primates on the planet. Furthermore, it is an animal that has been the subject of numerous investigations due to the similarity of 98.4% of its DNA with human DNA.

Despite its robust and strong appearance, and knowing that the gorilla is one of the strongest animals that exist, we emphasize that it is mostly a herbivorous animal, peaceful and extremely responsible with the environment.

If you want to find out more about the greatest apes in the world, keep reading this PeritoAnimal article, in which we'll detail about the types of gorillas that exists.

Types of gorillas

To know how many types of gorillas there are in the world, it is important to point out that there are only two species: the western gorilla (gorilla gorilla) and the eastern gorilla (gorilla eggplant). They also have four subspecies in total. However, for many years it was considered that there was only one species of gorilla and three subspecies, which has been updated by science.


The two species live mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, although they can be found in very different areas, distinguishing the low altitude areas and the more mountainous high altitude areas.

Below, we present all the types of gorillas existing with their respective scientific names:

Species:

Western Gorilla (gorilla gorilla)

Subsecies:

  • Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
  • river-cross gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)

Species:

Eastern Gorilla (gorilla eggplant)

Subspecies:

  • Mountains gorilla (gorilla beringei beringei)
  • Grauer Gorilla (Gorilla Beringei Graueri)

Differences between gorilla species

For a long time it was believed that there was only a single species of gorilla and that's because the differences between eastern and western gorillas are minimal, as both are very similar in appearance, behavior and in relation to their food.


The main differences between the types of gorillas are due to genetic factors and, thus, we highlight:

  • The size and morphology of the nose.
  • The sound they make to communicate as a group.
  • The eastern gorilla is generally larger than the western gorilla.

Below, we will detail each of the types of gorillas in greater detail, focusing on their species and subspecies.

western gorilla

Western gorillas are slightly smaller than eastern gorillas. They usually have the black color, but can also be found with fur dark brown or gray. In addition, as mentioned above, they have a bulge at the tip of the nose, which helps to differentiate from the other species.


Characteristics and behavior of the western gorilla

Males of this species weigh between 140 and 280 kilos, while females weigh between 60 and 120 kilos. The average height is also quite characteristic depending on the sex: males range from 1.60 to 1.70m while females measure from 1.20 to 1.40m.

the western gorillas have daytime habits and are more agile at climbing trees than their eastern relatives. Some scientists credit this to their diet, with greater fruit diversity.

Western Gorilla Feeding

All types of gorillas are mostly herbivorous animals and those of the western species are quite used to a wide "menu" of fruits. It is estimated that there are more than 100 different fruit trees in their habitat, many of them seasonal, meaning that they feed on different fruits throughout the year. In addition to fruit, the diet of gorillas is made up of branches, leaves, grass and small insects such as termites.

These very intelligent animals are also known for using different types of tools like rocks and sticks to facilitate access to food sources, breaking nutshells with stones despite having teeth strong enough to break them with their own mouths.

Gorilla reproduction

Gorilla reproduction can occur at any time of year. A curiosity about these mammals is that young males tend to abandon your group in search of another, which is fundamental for their genetic variation. Females are excellent caregivers for their young, protecting them and teaching them everything they need to know during their first four years of life.

east gorilla

The eastern gorilla is the largest primate in the world and is slightly larger than the western gorilla. The largest gorilla in the world was found in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was 1.94m tall. The heaviest was seen in Cameroon, with 266 kg.

Characteristics and behavior of the western gorilla

Gorillas of this species live in plains and mountains and are mostly tranquil animals. They are gregarious animals, that is, they live in groups usually composed of about 12 individuals, but it is possible to find groups of up to 40 gorillas. They have a long head, broad chest, long arms, flat nose with large nostrils. The face, hands, feet and chest are hairless. Its coat becomes completely gray with age.

Eastern gorilla feeding

Both species of gorillas devote about a third of the day to their food, consisting of bamboo, stems, bark, flowers, fruits and also small insects.

Gorilla reproduction

The breeding behavior of this species is similar to that of the western gorilla, in that it is common for both males and females to seek individuals or other groups for genetic diversification. Reproduction can take place at any time of the year.

Perhaps you might be interested in this other article on the strength of gorillas.

Gorillas are threatened with extinction

Unfortunately both gorilla species are endangered, according to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Among the different levels of extinction risk, they are in the most severe classification: critically endangered.

Among the four existing ones, the mountain gorilla subspecies is the most threatened with extinction because it has a small number of individuals, it is estimated that there are currently about 1 thousand.

the gorilla has no natural predators, therefore, its extinction risk is due to the destruction of its natural habitat by man, human hunting and also by the transmission of different viruses, such as Ebola and even the virus that causes Covid-19.

Another factor that contributes to the risk of extinction of gorillas is that they dedicate themselves exclusively to their offspring for about 4 to 6 years, therefore, birth rate it is very low and the recovery of populations ends up being really complex.

Now that you know the different types of gorillas, check out the following video about 10 animals from Africa:

If you want to read more articles similar to Types of gorillas, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.