Facts about Gorillas
Gorillas are the largest of the living primates. The DNA of gorillas is 98%–99% identical to that of a human, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the two chimpanzee species. The American physician and missionary Thomas Staughton Savage first described the Western Gorilla (he called it Troglodytes gorilla) in 1847 from specimens obtained in Liberia. Human genes differ only 1.6% on average from their corresponding gorilla genes in their sequence, but there is further difference in how many copies each gene has. The name Gorilla is derived from the Greek word Gorillai meaning a "tribe of hairy women". Recently, gorillas have been observed engaging in face-to-face sex, a trait that was once considered unique to humans and the Bonobo. Gorillas are now known to use tools in the wild. A female gorilla in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo was recorded using a stick as if to gauge the depth of water whilst crossing a swamp. A second female was seen using a tree stump as a bridge and also as a support whilst fishing in the swamp. In September 2005, a two and a half year old gorilla in the Republic of Congo was discovered using rocks to smash open palm nuts inside a game sanctuary. Their gestation period is 8˝ months. Gorillas spend most of the day eating. The French sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet won a medal of honour at the Salon of 1887 for his masterly "Gorilla Carrying off a Woman". Although praised in its time, this work now evokes ridicule from some observers for its depiction of a gorilla abducting a nude woman, presumably with the intention of raping her - something totally alien to actual gorilla behaviour. Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas has gorilla as a mascot. They live in highly complex social groups led by a dominant male Gorillas use several techniques to avoid confrontation when threatened. They may "yawn" to show off their large canine teeth or beat their chest while hooting or barking. Grooming is an important part of gorilla society. It helps establish and reinforce bonds and friendships. It also promotes cleanliness, as gorillas comb through thick fur to remove parasites. No two gorillas have the same "nose print," or nose pattern, much like how two humans have identical fingerprints. In fact, researchers use nose prints to identify individual gorillas. A gorilla's life is pretty simple. They spend 30 percent of their waking hours eating, 30 percent traveling and 40 percent resting and sleeping. Lifespan is between 30–50 years. The Dallas Zoo's Gorilla named Jenny lived to the age of 55. Gorillas live in tropical or subtropical forests. The giant gorilla is a recurring theme in film, especially in the various incarnations of King Kong and Mighty Joe Young. Adult males range in height from 165-175 cm (5 ft 5 in – 5 ft 9 in), and in weight from 140–204.5 kg (310–450 lb). Occasionally, a gorilla of over 183 cm (6 ft) and 225 kg (500 lb) has been recorded in the wild. However, obese gorillas in captivity have reached a weight of 270 kg (600 lb). Female gorillas mature at 10–12 years while male gorillas at 11–13 years. Almost all gorillas share the same blood type and like humans, have individual finger prints. There are typically 3 to 4 years between births. Which means after the mother gorilla gives birth to a child, there will be a period of about 3 to 4 years before she gives birth to another one. Gorillas are herbivores and they eat fruits, leaves, and shoots and would also sometimes ingest small insects also. Infant gorillas stay with their mothers for 3–4 years. Adult females are about 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 100 kg (220 lb) on the average. Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking. Gorillas are closely related to humans and are considered highly intelligent. A few individuals in captivity have been taught a subset of sign language. |
SEARCH
Sponsors
Related Links |