Mountain gorilla

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Mountain Gorilla

The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is a subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla and one of the two species of gorillas, the largest living primates. They are distinguished from other gorillas by their longer hair, larger jaws and teeth, and broader chest.

Distribution and Habitat[edit | edit source]

Mountain Gorillas are found in two separate locations: the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct volcanoes that border the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda; and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. They inhabit the high-altitude forests of these regions, typically above 2,200 meters.

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

Mountain Gorillas are highly social animals and live in stable, cohesive groups held together by long-term bonds between adult males and females. They are diurnal, most active between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. with many rest periods throughout the day.

Diet[edit | edit source]

Mountain Gorillas are primarily herbivores; the majority of their diet consists of leaves, shoots and stems, fruits, bark and roots. They are also known to eat small invertebrates.

Conservation Status[edit | edit source]

Mountain Gorillas are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Threats to their survival include habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, war and civil unrest, illegal hunting, disease, and capture for the illegal pet trade.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD