western lowland gorilla physical characteristics

Gorilla food includes leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, roots, ants, and termites. The big toe of a gorilla’s foot is opposable, like our thumb, to help it grab food or climb trees. Strong jaws help the gorilla chew tough stems. A gorilla’s large stomach can hold the bulky food it eats. Strong jaws and impressive teeth help the gorilla chew tough stems.Ĭan you imagine waking up each morning surrounded by food? Almost everything a gorilla eats is plant material, so life in the forest is like living in a huge restaurant! And gorillas love to eat-it’s their favorite activity! An adult male eats up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of food each day. The gorilla’s fibrous scat acts as rich fertilizer for the forest, and seedlings sprout from it rapidly, making gorillas important forest regenerators.Īn adult male eats up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of food each day. Like all great apes (except humans), gorillas require rainforests to make their living, and the forest depends upon them, too. Their arms are much longer than their legs, and gorillas can use the backs of their fingers like extra feet when they walk. Although they are able to stand upright, gorillas prefer to walk using their hands as well as their legs. Many people like to compare gorillas with humans, but there are several differences. They are the largest of all primates-the group of animals that includes monkeys, lemurs, orangutans, chimpanzees, and humans. But the truth is, they’re peaceful, family oriented, plant-eating primates that live in complex social groups. They seem to be forever typecast as the heavy. Gentle giants. Ever since King Kong first gave Fay Wray that unexpected lift to the top of the Empire State Building in 1933, Hollywood has gone ape depicting the gorilla as perfect monster material.

Western lowland gorilla physical characteristics