# Gorilla (*Gorilla beringei*) Gorillas are powerful yet gentle giants that live in the forests of Africa. They have strong arms for climbing trees and knuckle-walking on the ground. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Eastern Gorilla, Mountain Gorilla ![Gorilla](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426785/objects/6130.jpg) ## Appearance The Gorilla is a large, powerfully built ape with thick, dark brown to black fur covering its robust body. Males are notably larger and develop a distinctive silvery-grey patch on their back, known as a 'silverback'. They possess broad chests and a prominent brow ridge. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Hominidae - **Genus:** Gorilla ## Interesting facts - Wow! Baby gorillas cling to their mothers' backs for the first few months of life! - Wow! Despite their massive size, gorillas are generally peaceful and shy forest giants! - Wow! Each gorilla has a unique nose print, just like human fingerprints! - Wow! Gorillas are vegetarians, eating mostly plants, not bananas as often thought! ## Special abilities - **Knuckle Walking:** Gorilla can knuckle-walk on all fours because their specialized hand structure supports their heavy body weight while moving efficiently. - **Tool Savvy:** Gorilla can use simple tools like sticks to test water depth or as a walking aid because of their problem-solving intelligence. - **Leaf Umbrellas:** Gorilla can fashion temporary shelters from large leaves because of their creative resourcefulness, protecting them from weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-180 cm - **Weight:** 68-220 kg - **Lifespan:** 35-40 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 250-280 days ## Diet & Feeding Gorillas are gentle giants that munch mainly on yummy plants like leaves, stems, and fruits. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, stems, bamboo, fruit, bark, pith - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Bamboo (*Bambusa vulgaris*) — A key food source for many gorilla populations. - **Eats:** Natal Fig (*Ficus natalensis*) — Gorillas consume both its fruits and its leaves. - **Eats:** Bitter Yam (*Dioscorea dumetorum*) — They dig up and eat the tubers of this plant. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are their only natural predator, mainly targeting young. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always observe gorillas from a safe distance in the wild and never approach them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gorilla? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gorilla? 140-180 cm ### How much does Gorilla weigh? 68-220 kg ### How long does Gorilla live? 35-40 years ### How fast can Gorilla move? 40 km/h ### What does Gorilla eat? Gorillas are gentle giants that munch mainly on yummy plants like leaves, stems, and fruits. ### Where is Gorilla usually found? Forests ### How does Gorilla hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bronx Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bronx-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Detroit Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/detroit-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Milwaukee County Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/milwaukee-county-zoo) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo - [National Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-zoological-park) — District of Columbia, US · Zoo - [Toledo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/toledo-zoo) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Woodland Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woodland-park-zoo) — Washington, US · Zoo [View all places to see Gorilla](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gorilla) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Gorilla: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gorilla)