Hobbies And Interests
The Gorilla
Long considered a single species with three subspecies, gorillas today are commonly divided into two distinct species: the western and eastern gorillas. These are the biggest, heaviest living primates. Adult males of the larger subspecies may tip the scales at well over 400 pounds and are massively built, with huge jaws, barrel chests, muscular arms and high, crested skulls. Females are substantially smaller but still usually weigh between 150 and 250 pounds. Despite their great bulk and strength gorillas are almost wholly vegetarian, mainly favoring shoots and foliage.
Taxonomy
Like any other biological classification, the taxonomy of primates changes radically with new evidence and research. Once grouped with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans in a separate family of great apes, gorillas and those close relatives now belong to the family Homonidae, a category that also includes human beings. Gibbons, which are also apes, are distinct enough to be segregated into their own family. Gorillas and chimpanzees appear to be very closely related to humans -- sharing some 98 percent of our genetic makeup -- and probably share a more recent common ancestor with us than orangutans. Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos inhabit equatorial Africa, while orangutans dwell in rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Species and Subspecies
The National Primate Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reflects modern practice by dividing the eastern and western gorillas into two subspecies each: the first into eastern lowland and mountain gorillas, the second into western lowland and Cross River gorillas. The biggest of all, the eastern lowland gorilla, inhabits forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo up to elevations of 10,000 feet or more. Its relative the mountain gorilla haunts even higher montane forests of the Virunga Volcanoes of Rwanda and Uganda. Western lowland and Cross River gorillas roam low rainforests and swamps of the western and central regions of equatorial Africa, the latter in a highly restricted range in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Silverbacks
Adult male gorillas over 12 years old develop a grizzled, frosty saddle that gives them their "silverback" moniker. A typical gorilla social unit consists of a silverback, several adult females and offspring, with one or more younger adult males (called blackbacks) sometimes in attendance but subordinate to the silverback. Along with their size and immense strength silverbacks defend their bands with ferocious bluster, often pounding their chests and roaring to ward off rival silverbacks and potential predators like leopards.