Title: Gorilla Content: thumb|right|240px|Female gorilla Gorilla is a genus of African apes commonly known as gorillas. They are divided into two species, the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei). ==Behavior== Gorillas may be aggressive when attacked or provoked, but they are naturally gentle. They are generally herbivores, which means that they eat plants. But they also eat insects. ==Life span== A gorilla's lifespan in the wild is between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more because they have more food and health care. ==Taxonomy== * Genus Gorilla ** Western gorilla, Gorilla gorilla *** Western lowland gorilla, Gorilla gorilla gorilla *** Cross River gorilla, Gorilla gorilla diehliGorillas in Nigeria ** Eastern gorilla, Gorilla beringei *** Mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei *** Eastern lowland gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri ==Appearance== Gorillas are large apes. They can be strong like chimpanzees, orangutans and humans. An adult male gorilla can weigh up to 225 kilograms and stand 1.8 meters in height. Gorillas live in family groups called troops. They have a broad chest, wide shoulders, short legs, and long strong arms. They have black skin and hair. Adult male gorillas' hair becomes silver/grey on their backs as they become older. Because of that, older males are called "silverbacks". ==Life== thumb|140px|Where gorillas live Gorillas live in the rainforests in central Africa. They mostly live on the ground, but they can also climb. When on the ground, they walk on their feet and finger knuckles. Troops of gorillas wander slowly through the forests of Central Africa. For about half of their day they search for leaves, vines, and bamboo shoots to eat. Sometimes they also eat ants or termites. For the rest of the day, they lay in the sun and play with their children. If another gorilla threatens them, the troop's leader, the silverback, protects them by rearing up and beating his chest. Although mostly vegetarian, they have long canine teeth or fangs that the adult males sometimes use to fight each other for the troop leadership. Gorillas sleep in nests that they build on the ground. At the end of each day, each adult gorilla spends a few minutes putting together a soft, flat bed made of leaves, branches, and moss. The young gorillas sleep with their mothers. The gestation period (when a baby grows inside the mother) of a gorilla lasts between eight and ten months. Gorillas almost always produce one offspring - twins are rare. Gorilla babies begin to hang onto their mothers when they are only a few hours old and will continue to do so for the next three years. Gorillas live up to 50 years in the wild and up to 54 years in captivity.Blue Planet Level 5, Dinorah Pous, p7172. ==Gallery== File:Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) closeup eating.jpg File:Western Lowland Gorilla Feb09 02.jpg File:Burgers' Zoo (20190622134031).jpg File:Western Lowland Gorilla.jpg File:Western Lowland Gorilla at Bronx Zoo 4.jpg File:Bristol.zoo.western.lowland.gorilla.arp.jpg File:Gorilla gorilla gorilla (Gorille des plaines de l'Ouest) - 458.jpg File:Gorilla gorilla gorilla Nbg.jpg File:Western Lowland Gorilla (192).jpg File:RickMurphy graueri72.jpg File:Eastern lowland gorilla.jpg File:Eastern Lowland Gorilla ZOO Antwerp.jpg File:Eastern Lowland Gorilla ZOO Antwerp 2.jpg File:Cross river gorilla.jpg File:Cross-River-Gorilla-Gorilla-gorilla-diehli).jpg File:31 gorilla.jpg File:Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) 13.jpg File:Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) 27.jpg File:A mountain gorilla from Susa Group in Karisimbi thicket of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Emmanuel Kwizera.jpg ==Related pages== * Dian Fossey * Ape