Gorilla

An impressive animal which does not snore

Despite the tales which circulate concerning its ferocity, the gorilla is really a good-natured beast, though certainly its strength is enormous. It is a peacable dweller in the African jungle, in the depths of which the gorilla leads a most retiring life. There are two distinct sub-species of gorilla: the lowland gorilla which, as its name implies, lives in the coastal area of the Gulf of Guinea in the Zaire and Gabon Valleys and the mountain gorilla which is very localized on the slopes of the high mountains and volcanoes of Central Africa. It can be found up to heights of about 4000 metres (13,400 ft) in the bamboo forests which are continually bathed in rain and enveloped in fog. This ape, the largest of the prmates, lives in small groups composed of an adult male and two or three females and their young.

The male, the unchallenged leader of the group, when growing old changes color and as with man his hair turns white. However it is not only the hair on the gorilla's head which goes white, his back fur also becomes grizzled. The role of patriarch of the group consists in caring for the family. Vegetarian, the gorilla eats leaves, fruit and grain and likes the tender shoots and stalks of bamboos as well as the stems of banana trees. The prodigious strength of the gorilla makes it possible for him to snap the stems of trees without apparent effort. Each night the gorilla puts together a kind of bed, made of leaves, on which it sleeps through the night. It is an earth-bound animal which keeps to the ground; only the young climb and play among the branches.

Gestation: 240 to 276 days Young walk at 5 or 6 months Sexual maturity at 7 or 8 years	Weight at birth: 1.8 to 2.1 kg (4 to 4.6 lbs) Adult weight: M 200 to 270 kg (440 to 594 lbs) F 80 to 100 kg (176 to 220 lbs)	Arm-span: 2 to 2.75 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft) Size when standing: M 1.80 m (5 ft 10 in) F 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in)
Phylum: Vertebrata	Class: Mammalia	Order: Primates	Sub-order: Catarrhina	Family: Pongidae	Genus and species: Gorilla gorilla

Some wildlife links for you to follow

DISCOVERY DISCOVERY SCHOOL THE NATURE COMPANY ADVENTURE TRAVEL THE FLAGSHIP STORE AFRICA'S ELEPHANT KINGDOM

Juke Joint | Sports Lounge | Make It Count | Chat Backdoor
Credits | Diva's Dedication | Broken Ankles | Site Map
Sign Guestbook | View Guestbook | Webmaster
Wildlife Archive