CROSS RIVER GORILLA

CHARACTERISTICS

• Cross River Gorilla skulls are smaller than those of other gorillas
• Male Cross River Gorilla skulls are particularly distinct.
• Cross River Gorillas have the smallest mean cheek toothsurface area.

CLASSIFICATION LEVELS

• KINGDOM: ANIMALIA
• PHYLUM:CHORDATA
• CLASS:MAMMALIAN
• ORDER:PRIMATES
• FAMILY:HOMINDAE

CLASSIFICTION LEVELS

• GENUS:GORILLA
• SPECIES:GORILLA& BERINGEI

HABITAT

• The Cross River Gorilla is only found in an area of about 12,000km2 around the headwaters of the Cross River
• spanning the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

BEHAVIOR AND GROUPS

• THE CROSS RIVER GORILLA LIVES IN GROUPS LIKE MOST GORILLAS
• THEY EAT LEAVES,FRUITS, AND FLOWERS
• THEY ARE EATEN BY HUMANS,LEOPARDS,AND CROCIDILES

FOOD WEB

REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES

• CROSS RIVER GORILLAS HAVE A VERY SLOW REPRODUCTIVE RATE
• THEY ONLY MATE VERY LOCALLY AND THEY ARE VERY SUCCESFUL

WHY ENDANGERED?

• THEY ARE ONE OF AFRICAS MOST ENDANGERED APES
• ONLY WITHIN 250-350 GORILLAS LEFT
• PEOPLE HUNT AND KILL THEM OFTEN

SOLUTION TO ENDANGERMENT

• STOP CUTTING DOWN FORRESTS
• LESS HUNTING THE GORILLAS
• MAKE REFUGES AND CONSERATIVES TO SAVE THEM