Western Lowland Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla
Physical Appearance
-The gorilla is the largest of all primates
- Wester Low Land Adult male gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are about 1.7m (66.9 in) In body and weight about 165.5 kg (375 Ib) Adult Females are about 1.5 m ( 59.1 in ) In body and weight about 71.5 Kg (158 Ib).
Shape
Gorillas have a distinctive shape in the their stomach are larger then their chests. Their stomach size is attributed to their enlarger, which digest the bulky fibrous vegetation they consume.
Coloration
Dentition
1. Gorillas have 32 teeth - the same as number ad humans.
2. Gorillas have a strong teeth adaptation for the coarse vegetation they consume.
Social Structure / Silverback keeping a watchful eye on his troop.
The Older and stronger adult male silverbacks is usually dominant in the troop and has exclusive breeding right to the females.
Gorillas troop have a home range between
4-25km² (1.5-9.7 Miles²)
Head
The Head of the gorilla is a massive, with a bulging forehead overhanging the eye and a bony sagittal crest top (high-domend head). The sagittal crest ( especially noticeable in males) supports the largest Temporal muscles needed to grind coarse vegetation.
Head
Behavior and Habitat
- Gorillas build nests to sleep in and the presence of sufficient nesting material determines the location in which they bed. Nest construction varies, but usually consists of bent/broken vines and branches formed around and underneath each individual. Infants sleep in their mother's nest until they are about three years of age. But some offspring as young as eight months practice nest building. Nests function to keep the gorillas off the cold ground, prevent them slipping down a slope, or support them in a tree during the night. Researchers can identify the size, age, activity and make-up of a gorilla troop based on their nests.
- Gorillas primarily inhabit tropical forest habitats. Tropical forests are characterized as having little variance in temperature (around 23°C) and length of daylight (around 12 hours). However, rainfall varies considerably in the tropics and is a primary factor as to the type of vegetation that grows in an area.
Why the animal is endangered
Ebola has caused a nubbier of masive gorilla die offs in the remote forest in the heart of the primate's ranges.
some scientist estimate that it has killed about one third of the wild gorilla population , mostly western lowland gorillas.
What need to be done to save the animal for the future generation
- preventing listed species from being killed or harmed
- protecting habitat essential to this species
- make it illegal for humans to cut down plants essential for the gorillas wealth being and life style.
- creating plans to restore health populations
- have veterinarians go and give them essential shots needed for them to be healthy.