Interesting
Physical Characteristics
- - The
largest primate is the Gorilla, which can weigh up to 600 pounds.
- - Unlike
humans, gorillas have an opposable big toe, as well as thumb. Therefore they
can manipulate objects with their feet as well as their hands.
-
- The
arms of a gorilla are longer than their legs (and their armspans are about 1
foot longer than an adult male), which is why they prefer to walk on their
knuckles (although they can walk on two feet also).
- An
adult gorilla has six times the upper body strength of an adult human male.
- They
have a large bulging forehead mainly to protect their eyes
-
- Gorillas’
also have stomachs, which are larger than their chests due to their enlarged
intestines.
- Similar
to humans, gorillas go through two sets of teeth in their lifetime (baby teeth
and permanent teeth).
- - They also have 32 teeth, which is the same as us!
- They
have fingernails and toenails instead of claws. This is true for all primates.
- Most
gorillas have dark skin, and black to brown hair except the Silverbacks. They
develop silver hair across their backs and thighs as they go through puberty
and sexually mature. This creates the illusion that they are bigger than they
are!
- - Adult
gorillas lack hair on their fingers, palms, soles, nose, lips, ears, and chest.
- Similar
to a fingerprint, gorillas have a unique nose print! This is used by
researchers to distinguish gorillas in the field.
- Unlike
monkeys, gorillas do not have tails!
Other
Fun Facts
- The
Mountain gorilla is especially susceptible to human diseases.
- Mountain
gorillas are currently also the most endangered, though all gorillas are
endangered because of hunting and a loss of their habitat.
- Gorillas
build their own nests to sleep at night, but a nest is not used more than once.
- Gorillas
live in “troops” of about 5 to 9 gorillas.
- Gorillas
live in Africa in the following countries: Cameroon, the Central African
Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.
- Human
birth control pills also work on gorillas
- Baby
gorillas nurse up to three years!
SSources:
PPictures:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/396450980_3812be42b9.jpg
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/108/298919808_02385bb326_z.jpg
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/images/pic-nose-prints.jpg
http://www.kedgley.school.nz/Kedgley/animalsite/ani_images/gorillasilver.jpg
http://members.arstechnica.com/x/skyslash/angry_gorilla_small.jpg
http://www.tigerhomes.org/animal/images/gorilla-distribution-map.gif
http://www.atomicpics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Baby-Gorilla.jpg
