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                                          Gorila
Gorillas are the largest extant genus of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas comprise one eponymous genus that is divided into two species and either four or five subspecies. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of a human, from 95–99% depending on what is counted, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the bonobo and common chimpanzee.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forests in Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200–4,300 metres (7,200–14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.^[
The closest relatives of gorillas are chimpanzees and humans, all of the Hominidae have diverged from a common ancestor about 7 million years ago.^[6] Human genes differ only 1.6% on average from their corresponding gorilla genes in their sequence, but there is further difference in how many copies each gene has.^[7] Until recently there was considered to be a single gorilla species, with three subspecies: the western lowland gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla and the mountain gorilla.^[8][9] There is now agreement that there are two species with two subspecies each. More recently it have been claimed that a third subspecies exists in one of the species. The separate species and subspecies developed from a single type of gorilla during the Ice Age, when their forest habitats shrank and became isolated from each other.^[2]
Primatologists continue to explore the relationships between various gorilla populations.^[8] The species and subspecies listed here are the ones upon which most scientists agree.
The proposed third subspecies of Gorilla beringei, which has not yet received a trinomen, is the Bwindi population of the mountain gorilla, sometimes called the Bwindi gorilla.
Some variations that distinguish the classifications of gorilla include varying density, size, hair color, length, culture, and facial widths. There are now thought to be over 100,000 western lowland gorillas in the wild, with 4,000 in zoos; eastern lowland gorillas have a population of 4,000 in the wild and 24 in zoos. Mountain gorillas are the most severely endangered, with an estimated population of about 620 left in the wild and none in zoos.

Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk bipedally for short distances while carrying food or in defensive situations. Adult males, also called silverbacks, range in height 1.65–1.75 metres (5 ft 5 in–5 ft 9 in), and in weight 140–200 kg (310–440 lb). Adult females are often half the size of a silverback, averaging about 1.4 metres (4 ft 7 in) tall and 100 kg (220 lb). Occasionally, a silverback of over 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) and 230 kg (510 lb) has been recorded in the wild. Obese gorillas in captivity have reached a weight of 270 kg (600 lb). Gorillas have a facial structure which is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, their mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.

The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also have the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forests are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorilla. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla.

Studies have shown that gorilla blood is non-reactive to anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibodies which would, in humans, indicate type O blood. However, due to novel sequences it is different enough to not conform with the human ABO blood group system, which the other great apes fit into. Like humans, gorillas have individual finger prints.Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Similar to humans, the leading cause of death in gorillas is cardiovascular disease.

Behavior and ecology

Range and habitat

Gorillas have a patchy distribution. The range of the two species is separated by the Congo river and its tributaries. The western gorilla lives in west central Africa while the eastern gorilla lives in east central Africa. Between the species and even within the species, gorillas live in a variety of habitats and elevations. Gorilla habitat ranges from montane forests to swamps. Eastern gorilla inhabit montane and submontane forests between 650–4000 m (2132-13,123 ft). Mountain gorillas live in the montane forests at the higher ends of the elevation range while eastern lowland gorillas live in submotane forests at the lower ends of the elevation range. In addition, eastern lowland gorillas live in montane bamboo forests as well as lowland forests ranging from 600–3308 m (1969-10,853 ft) in elevation. Western gorillas live in both lowland swamp forests and montane forests and live in elevations ranging from sea level to 1600 m (5249 ft). Western lowland gorillas live in swamp and lowland forests ranging up to 1600 m (5249 ft) and Cross River gorillas live in low-lying and submontane forests ranging 150–1600 m (492–5249 ft).
A gorilla's day is synchronized, divided between rest periods and travel or feeding periods. There are dietary differences between and within species. Mountain gorillas mostly eat foliage such as leaves, stems, pith, and shoots while fruit makes up a very small part of their diet. They primarily eat bamboo. The food that mountain gorillas eat is widely distributed and both individuals and groups do not have to compete with each other. Their home ranges average 3–15 km² (1.16–5.79 mi²), and their movements range around 500 m (0.311 mi) or less on an average day. Despite eating a few species in each habitat, mountain gorillas have a flexible diet and can live in a variety of habitats.
Easten lowland gorillas have a more diverse diet which varies seasonally. Leaves and pith are commonly eaten but fruits can make up as much as 25% of their diet. Since fruit is less available, lowland gorillas must travel farther each day and have home ranges that vary from 2.7–6.5 km² (1.04 to 2.51 mi²) with day ranges 154–2280 m (0.096–1.42 mi). Eastern lowland gorillas will also eat insects, preferably ants. Western lowland gorillas depend on fruits more than the others and they are more dispersed across their range.They travel even further than the other gorilla subspecies, at 1105 m (0.687 mi) per day on average, and have larger home ranges of 7–14 km² (2.70–5.41 mi²). Western lowland gorillas have less access to terrestrial herbs, although they can access aquatic herbs in some areas. Termites and ants also are also eaten.
Gorillas rarely drink water "because they consume succulent vegetation that is comprised of almost half water as well as morning dew",^[23] although both mountain and lowland gorillas have been observed drinking.
One possible predator of gorillas is the leopard. Gorilla remains have been found in leopard scat but it is possible that this may be the result of scavenging.^[24] When the group is attacked by humans, leopards, or other gorillas, an individual silverback will protect the group, even at the cost of his own life.^[25] George Schaller reported that a "silverback gorilla and a leopard were both found dead from mutually inflicted wounds".^[26]

Social structure

Gorillas live in groups called troops. Troops tend to be made of one adult male or silverback, multiple adult females and their offspring. However, multi-male troops also exist.^[28] Silverbacks are typically more than 12 years of age and named for the distinctive patch of silver hair on their back which comes with maturity. They also have large canine teeth which also come with maturity. Both males and females tend to emigrate from their natal groups. For mountain gorillas, females disperse from their natal troops more than males. Mountain gorillas and western lowland gorillas also commonly transfer to second new groups.Mature males tend to also leave their groups and establish their own troops by attracting emigrating females. However, male mountain gorillas sometimes stay in their natal troops and become subordinate to the silverback. If the silverback dies, these males may be able to become dominant or mate with the females. This behavior have been observed in eastern lowland gorillas. In a single male group, when the silverback dies, the females and their offspring disperse and find a new troop.^[30][31] Without a silverback to protect them, the infants will likely fall victim to infanticide. Joining a new group is likely to be a tactic against this.^[30][32] However while gorilla troops usually disband after the silverback dies, female eastern lowlands gorillas and their offspring have been recorded staying together until a new silverback transfers into the group. This likely serves as protection from leopards.^[31] All male troops have been recorded.

Females will purse their lips and slowly approach a male while and make eye contact. This serves to urge the male to mount her. If the male does not respond, then she will try to attract his attention by reaching towards him or slapping the ground.^[40] In multi-male groups, solicitation indicates female preference. However females can be forced to mate with multiple males.^[40] Males incite copulation by approaching a female and displaying at her or touching her and giving a "train grunt".^[39] Recently, gorillas have been observed engaging in face-to-face sex, a trait that was once considered unique to humans and the bonobo.^[41]

Gorillas are considered highly intelligent. A few individuals in captivity, such as Koko, have been taught a subset of sign language. Like the other great apes, gorillas can laugh, grieve, have "rich emotional lives," develop strong family bonds, can make and use tools, and can think about the past and future.^[52] Some researchers believe that gorillas have spiritual feelings or religious sentiments.^[2] Gorillas have been shown to have cultures in different areas revolving around different methods of food preparation, and gorillas will show individual color preferences.^[2]

In September 2005, a two and a half year old gorilla in the Republic of Congo was discovered using rocks to smash open palm nuts inside a game sanctuary.^[54] While this was the first such observation for a gorilla, over 40 years previously chimpanzees have been seen using tools in the wild 'fishing' for termites. Great apes are endowed with a semi-precision grip, and have been able to use both simple tools and even weapons, by improvising a club from a convenient fallen branch.

Gorillas are considered highly intelligent. A few individuals in captivity, such as Koko, have been taught a subset of sign language. Like the other great apes, gorillas can laugh, grieve, have "rich emotional lives," develop strong family bonds, can make and use tools, and can think about the past and future.^[52] Some researchers believe that gorillas have spiritual feelings or religious sentiments.^[2] Gorillas have been shown to have cultures in different areas revolving around different methods of food preparation, and gorillas will show individual color preferences.^[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla