Introduction
Gorilla gorilla gorilla, is better known by its common name, western lowland gorilla (National Geographic Society n.d.). The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the Genus Gorilla, within the Suborder Haplorhini (Table 1). G. gorilla gorilla is found in Central to Western Africa in lowlands, swamps, and tropical and subtropical forests (San Diego Zoo Global 2006; World Wildlife Fund n.d.a.).
Table 1. G. gorilla gorilla Taxonomy
Suborder
Haplorhini
Infraorder
Simiiformes
Superfamily
Hominoidea
Family
Hominidae
Genus
Gorilla
Species
G. gorilla
Subspecies
G. gorilla gorilla
Source: Primate Info Net (Cawthon Lang 2005)
Western lowland gorillas are sexually dimorphic with the male gorillas being about 2 times as large as female gorillas (San Diego Zoo Global 2006). Male gorillas are 400–500 pounds, on average, and female gorillas are only 159–216 pounds (Cawthon Lang 2005). The males also are taller than the females when standing bipedally, at around 1700 millimeters (~5 '5") on average, 200 millimeters more than their female counterparts (Cawthon Lang 2005). Gorillas’ arms are longer than their legs, which helps with their knuckle-walking (Saint Louis Zoo n.d.). The habitual mode of locomotion for gorillas is primarily knuckle-walking (Cawthon Lang 2005), but they can walk bipedally for a short amount of time (Saint Louis Zoo n.d.). Western lowland gorillas differ from other gorilla subspecies in that they have brownish (rather than black) fur (World Wildlife
Von Beringe discovered the primate on the summits of the Virunga Volcanoes (Berggorilla and Direkthilfe, 2000). The officer described the mountain gorilla as to be a large manlike ape, that was tall in stature (about 1 1/2 meters tall), and weighed over 200 pounds (Schaller, 2010). The mountain gorilla physical characteristics from other subspecies of primate differs by: lengthy hair, jaw, and teeth, as well as shorter arms (http://wwf-congobasin.org/, 2010). The mountain gorilla is one of the most wooly of primates, it has a long thick coat of fur that is necessary for the high cold altitudes. (Hilyard, 2001). Also, when male
Monkeys and humans have been compared for years, we have all heard the expression “Monkey see, Monkey do”. Analyzing individual primates at the Santa Ana Zoo was quite an experience because when I use to hear monkeys I use to only picture one certain appearance and that was a brown monkey with a light brown face, and a long tail. Moneys are not just monkeys, humans aren’t just humans, and apes aren’t just apes they are all primates which is a mammal that has certain characteristics such as: flexible fingers and toes, opposable thumbs, flatter face than other mammals, have eyes that face forward and spaced close together, large and complex cerebrum, and they are also social
Gorillas are the largest group of primates and although they are known as being bipedal, similar to humans and other primates, they often use knuckle walking to move around. On observation, they have seems to have a more robust front appearance than their hind legs and behind. Their cranium is taller than other primates and lower mandible more protruding than their snout. They also have human-like ears that are parallel to their eyes and are small in size. They have
The life history of the Cross River Gorilla is considerably long, ranging from gestation period to death (Save Our Species), (Imong, I., & Robbins, M.). The normal female gorilla will not
At about age 10, mountain gorillas reach sexual maturity and are able to have their own offspring. Females have one infant at a time and have a pregnancy period of 9 months. There are only 3 days each month that female mountain gorillas can conceive. After a female gorilla`s first ovulatory cycle, they have to wait at least 2 years before they
-Bonobo’s display a varied degree of sexual dimorphism, which is a characteristic specific to either male or female sex. When comparing the two sexes, males are more muscular and hold an average weight of 95 pounds compared to an average of 82 pounds and a slighter built female, a 15 percent weight difference between them. Sexual dimorphism is also apparent in that males possess a unique dental trait, long canines, a feature that females lack. Both sexes are similar in that neither has a height advantage, averaging 2.3 to 3 feet in height. (Waal 24) Bonobo’s possess long, fine black hair covering most of the body and black colored hands and feet. Their black faces feature wide, thick walled nostrils and long black facial hair that often covers their small ears. Their head hair
Trustworthiness is an important element in a relationship. It is the groundwork for dependability between two people, and from it, relationships grow and mature. When that trust is shattered, it creates a barrier between the two people. What defines a legal agreement with a business partner from a silly promise made to a child? In a child’s eyes, there is no distinction. A promise is a promise. In Toni Cade Bambara’s “Gorilla, My Love,” the evolving perspective of the distinction between an act of betrayal and the breaking of a juvenile pact is scrutinized through an incident between a child, Hazel, and her uncle, Hunca Bubba.
Gorillas are similar to humans in many different ways, such as sadness and laughter and also have hands just like a human. Some gorillas even know sign language when speaking to one another. They show over 20 known sounds, and other gorillas recognize them. It takes a very long time to build their trust as well. “Their DNA is 98.3% identical to a humans.” (Lewis, et.al, 2008) Reproduction for gorillas is also another feature just like humans, it is a slow procedure. It takes about 8 and a half months for a single gorilla to be produced, even though the process is slow the growing of a young gorilla is more rapid than a humans. They raise the infant gorilla for several years before giving birth to another baby. As many as 40% do not survive after birth. Male infants usually splits from the parents due to the lack of breeding chances.
Gentle, peaceful & shy are the words that describe gorillas. Gorillas in the mountains & eastern lowland areas are totally vegetarian & eat leaves, fruits, & stems like bamboo. On the other hand, gorillas in the Western lowlands eat small invertebrates & insects apart from plants. It’s anticipated that approximately 80% of gorilla population’s extinct, because of the destruction of their habitat, humans hunting them down & diseases as a result of Ebola
I observed a type of Ape known as the Western Lowland Gorilla. The scientific name for a Gorilla is the Gorilla gorilla. Gorillas are the largest of all living primates and at native to west central Africa. Gorillas exhibit sexual dimorphism within their species because males are very obviously much larger than females. The size of the gorillas came across very intimating and gave me an off impression of what this specie was actually going to be like. While observing the gorillas I noticed that these creatures are very slow, lethargic primates. Gorillas move quadrupedally by putting weight down on their arms and knuckles as they walk. They have hands and opposable thumbs, like humans, and are able to grasp things with a better grip. When Gorillas need to reach above themselves such as for leaves or branches they are able to stand on both legs while reaching. While resting Gorillas sit on their bottoms, legs to the side in a similar position that humans do. When resting I noticed that sometimes Gorillas like to take advantage of the moment by self grooming, using their hands. Gorillas usually have an herbivore diet but eat occasional insects. Due to their large body structure it is harder for them move around quickly so they do not need to eat foods that contain as much nutrients and proteins as smaller,
Western and Eastern gorillas are more genetically distant from one another than are chimpanzees and bonobos. There are few striking physical differences between the subspecies of gorilla, although differences in dentition and skulls reveal distinguishing morphological characteristics of each subspecies. Mountain gorillas have significantly longer hair than their conspecifics, while western gorillas have brown hair. Eastern gorillas have longer faces and broader chests than western gorillas (Rowe 1996; Nowak 1999). Gorillas have dark brown to black fur and black skin. Dominant adult males who control the group, is called silverbacks because have a prominent sagittal crest and striking silver coloration from their shoulders to rump.
In the short story, “Gorilla, My Love”, author Toni Cade Bambara narrates a story about the way children overanalyze little white lies. Bambara tells the story as if a child was talking in first-person view. Throughout the story Hazel talks about different instances of her share of what she thought was being lied to. The read was very enjoyable because it was something that I could relate to. For instance, when Hazel and her friend are at the movie theater and she says, “ …we yell some more and some kids slip under the rope and run up and down the aisle just to show it take more than some dusty ole velvet rope to tie us down.” (Bambara 450) As I child I thought I could anything I wanted and have no repercussions to pay,
The Western Lowland Gorillas are critically endangered animals that require our protection and support. The Western Lowland Gorillas’ greatest threat is poaching the gorillas for food and the destruction of their natural habitat. Wildlife preserves are constructed, but the poaching continues due to unstable governments and high price of the gorillas’ meat. The governments in African countries must be stabilized to prevent poaching and destruction of the Western Lowland Gorillas habitat or these animals will become extinct.
Gorillas are very fascinating animals. Many may think of gorillas as vicious monsters due to their depictions in Hollywood Films but they are actually known to be gentle animals. Throughout this essay we will be discussing the taxonomic classification, important physical and social features, and present day geographic distribution. Looking at their evolution and comparing it to Homo Sapiens. Last but not least why the Gorilla is one of my favorite animals.
I was teleported to another world. Something that I wanted to happen. Earth was boring for me. It was either me being teleported to another world or a fantasy apocalypse happening on earth. You know, spice up life a bit. I should be excited that I am in another world but I am not in my body. Which would have been fine, I didn’t mind being in another body but.