Gorilla Facts
Gorilla Facts
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| Interesting Gorilla Facts: |
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| Male gorillas are two times bigger than females. They can reach height of 6 feet and weight of 480 pounds. Females are usually 5 feet tall, weighing up to 215 pounds. |
| Gorilla is 4 to 8 times stronger than human. |
| Just like humans, gorilla has 10 fingers on hands, 32 teeth and forward-looking eyes. Unlike humans, big toes on feet look like thumbs. Also, their arms are longer and more muscular. |
| Almost whole body of gorilla is covered with black hair. Between the age of 13 and 15 years, male gorilla changes the black color of the hair at its back into silver. |
| Gorilla can stand in the upright position, but it normally walks using all four extremities. |
| Upright position is usually associated with punching of the chests and it reflects excitement or aggressiveness. |
| Another unique characteristic of gorillas is their ability to experience wide variety of emotions: love, hate, fear, pride, jealousy, anger, greed, grief… |
| Gorillas are very intelligent animals. They communicate using at least 22 different sounds, body posture, facial expression, body odor…Gorillas are able to learn and apply sign language to communicate with people. |
| Gorillas live in groups called "troops". They are composed of one dominant male (silverback), one younger (sexually immature) male, 3 to 4 females and 3 to 6 young gorillas. |
| Gorillas have large bellies because they have long intestines required for plant-based diet. They eat large quantities (up to 40 pounds per day) of shoots, branches, leaves, fruits and vines. Other than that, gorillas eat ants, termites, insect larvae and worms. |
| Gorillas are diurnal (active during the day) animals. They spend third part of the day in search for food, one third in eating and the rest of the day in resting. |
| Gorilla builds a nest using the leaves. Nest can be located on the ground or on the trees, but gorilla never sleeps in the same nest twice. Often change of the nest protects it against the predators such as leopards and crocodiles. |
| Gorilla can mate any time during the year. Pregnancy in female lasts 8.5 months and ends with one baby. |
| Females are devoted mothers. They will continue carrying their babies in the arms even after they learn to walk. Females reach sexual maturity between 10 and 12 years, while males between 11 and 13 years. |
| Lifespan of gorilla is between 35 and 50 years. |
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Related Links: Facts Animal Facts Animals Facts Mountain vs. Lowland gorilla |