MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

KINGDOM

• Kingdom- animalia
• Phylum- chordata
• Class-Mammailia
• Order- primates
• Genus- Gorilla

CHARACTERISTICS

• Males weigh 300-500lbs
• Females weigh 100-200lbs
• Have dark skin and black and brown and grey hair
• Males develop silver on their backs once they mature

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS

• Gorillas have a distinctive shape with their stomachs larger than chests
• Stomach is that size due to their intestines are larger to digest bulky plants
• Their thumb and big toe oppose the other digits so they can grasp more

HABITAT

• Live in high mountains of Africa
• 8,000 to 13,000 ft
• Temperatures can drop below freezing

BEHAVIOR AND LIFESTYLE

• Live in families up to 30 members
• Group usually consists of one older male
• Feed on wild celery and bamboo and certain fruits
• Predators are leopards,crocodiles,and humans

REPRODUCTIVE STRATAGIES

• Males dont breed untill 15-20 YO
• Females give birth to one baby every 4yrs
• A surviving infant is produced every 6-8yrs
• During a 40-50 yr period femals only produce 4-6

CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG

• Weighs around 4.5 lbs
• Dont walk untill 30-40 weeks

WHY ENDANGERED?

• Habitat loss due to human encroachment
• Poaching for body parts
• Young are caught and sold illegally as pets

SOLUTIONS

• International Gorilla Conservation Program
• Gorilla Fund International
• WWF
• National parks for gorillas

INFO

• Animalfactguide.com
• Natoinalgeographic.com
• WWF.com