Ruggiero Richard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The gorilla’s arms are extremely long, enabling it to walk on all four limbs while keeping its head up.
The gorilla’s arms are extremely long, enabling it to walk on all four limbs while keeping its head up. It is primarily terrestrial but is fully capable of climbing. Contrary to common belief, the gorilla is not afraid of water and will frequently wade in swamp forests in search of aquatic vegetation.
Western gorilla, eastern gorilla
CLASS: Mammalia (mammal)
ORDER: Primates (monkeys)
FAMILY: Pongidae (great apes)
GENUS/SPECIES: 2 subspecies: Gorilla gorilla gorilla and G. gorilla berengei (western lowland and eastern)
Size: Around 5 ft (1.5 m) when upright, 4 ft (1.2 m) in normal stance
Weight: Average about 400 lbs (181 kg); Males are heavier than females
Original Diet: Plants
Present Diet: Mostly plants, but also insects
Habitat: Forests of equatorial Africa
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