The eastern gorilla, Gorilla beringei, is the largest living primate and one of the two species of the genus Gorilla. It has two subspecies: the mountain gorilla of the volcanic slopes of Rwanda, Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the eastern lowland or Grauer gorilla of the forests of the Albertine Rift in eastern Congo. Adults have a large head, broad chest and long arms and mostly black fur, and mature males develop the silvery saddle that gives silverbacks their name; a full-grown male typically weighs 140 to 205 kilograms. The species eats mainly foliage, is active by day, and lives in cohesive family groups led by a dominant silverback, sometimes of up to 35 individuals. It has been listed as critically endangered since 2016, after losing more than 70 percent of its population between 1996 and 2016, although the mountain gorilla population has been growing.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsResidential and Commercial Development 1 ThreatsTransportation and Service Corridors 1 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleEcotourism and Research 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Hominidae (Wikipedia)
In Biome
Source Eastern gorilla (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Eastern gorilla (Wikipedia)Distribution and ecology, rangeQuote, Distribution and ecology, range
Mountain gorillas are restricted to the mountain rainforest and subalpine forest of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), southwestern Uganda and Rwanda.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Eastern gorilla (Wikipedia)Distribution and ecology, rangeQuote, Distribution and ecology, range
Mountain gorillas are restricted to the mountain rainforest and subalpine forest of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), southwestern Uganda and Rwanda.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Eastern gorilla (Wikipedia)Distribution and ecology, rangeQuote, Distribution and ecology, range
Mountain gorillas are restricted to the mountain rainforest and subalpine forest of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), southwestern Uganda and Rwanda.
Sources
1. Eastern gorilla (Wikipedia)
Lead, conservation status
is a critically endangered species of the genus Gorilla
Lead, living primate
the largest living primate
Distribution and ecology, diet
Eastern gorillas are herbivorous, with a heavily foliage based diet
Distribution and ecology, activity
They are diurnal but the majority of foraging occurs in the morning and late afternoon.
Distribution and ecology, range
Mountain gorillas are restricted to the mountain rainforest and subalpine forest of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), southwestern Uganda and Rwanda.
Conservation status, trend
as its population continued to decrease
Conservation status, development
habitat destruction for residential, commercial, and agricultural purposes
Conservation status, corridors
habitat fragmentation caused by transportation corridors and resource extraction
Lead, hunting
Illegal hunting threatens the species.
Conservation status, tourism
viewing mountain gorillas is a popular tourist attraction
Size
A full-grown male eastern gorilla typically weighs 140-205.5 kg (309-453 lb)
In Group: Primate Species, Lead, kind of animal
the largest living primate
In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Distribution and ecology, forest type
Mountain gorillas are restricted to the mountain rainforest and subalpine forest of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Child Taxon Of: Gorilla, Lead, genus
is a critically endangered species of the genus Gorilla
View the Source2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Gorilla beringei
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status, CITES
CITES Appendix I
Lifespan/Longevity
Gorillas can reach ages of 40 to 50 years.
View the Source Hominidae (Wikipedia)
Child Taxon Of: Hominidae, Phylogeny, classification listQuote, Child Taxon Of: Hominidae, Phylogeny, classification list
includes eight extant species in four genera: Pongo (the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutan); Gorilla (the eastern and western gorilla); Pan (the chimpanzee and the bonobo); and Homo, of which only modern humans (Homo sapiens) remain.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.