Western Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Epic
- Observations
- 275
- Most observed in
- 🇬🇦 Gabon
- Conservation
- Critically Endangered
Description
The western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is a great ape found in Africa, one of two species of the hominine genus Gorilla. Large and robust with males weighing around 168 kilograms (370 lb), the species is found in a region of midwest Africa, geographically isolated from the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei). The hair of the western species is significantly lighter in colour. The western gorilla is the second largest living primate after the eastern gorilla. Two subspecies are recognised: the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is found in most of West Africa; while the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is limited to a smaller range in the north at the border of Cameroon and Nigeria. Both subspecies are critically endangered.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Western gorilla”.