Many do not know important information about gorillas, some do not even know where they are, in addition to believing that because they are so imposing, they only eat meat, the answer turns out to be more surprising than you think. We invite you to discover what do gorillas eat, just here.
What are Gorillas?
This species of primates turns out to be the largest in the world, in addition to being extremely similar biologically to man, sharing up to 98% in the DNA structure. They have their name thanks to the aborigines of Africa (the nation where these animals live), which in their language can be translated as "hairy subject".
Physically they have a very stocky and corpulent structure, they are very resistant and possess incredible strength, which allows them to defend themselves against other animals, but not with the intention of hunting, since these are Herbivorous animals. These animals can live up to 50 years, which says a lot about their longevity and quality of life.
They are incredible and extremely intelligent species, in their wild life they have adopted techniques that turn out to be very complex for an animal, these help them to move and in their daily tasks. But this does not end here, as there is even research that indicates that these animals in captivity can develop various human practices, such as transmitting information through sign language.
Characteristics of Gorillas
They move by walking on their four limbs, leaning on their knuckles and have arms very similar to those of the human being, except for the fact that these are larger than their legs. They have a jaw that is longer than the upper jaw, with 32 teeth that grow when they are small and are replaced through development.
Reproduction and Offspring
The largest male or also called leader of the group is the one who benefits the most in this area, being himself the one who takes charge of reproduction and copulates with all the females of the group, in the same way they are the ones who decide if any other male benefits from this act also with some members of the group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23RllY4sbxE
The females reach sexual maturity when they are 7 years old, however they do not mate with any male until they reach 10. They do not have a mating season, which means that they can mate at any time they want, usually it is the male who decides the moment.
The question of How are Gorillas born? It is very common, pregnancy lasts at least 8 months and 3 to 4 years must pass before the females can breed again, and it is the approximate amount of time that the offspring remain with the mother.
Where does the Gorilla live?
The habitat of gorillas is closely linked to the species, since these are classified depending on the region in which they live, although on the other hand, it is very true that these species are currently found in different regions of Equatorial Africa, which is also the most tropical area of that nation.
Species and Subspecies
In the scientific environment, 2 species of gorillas and 4 subspecies are accepted, these are the following:
western gorilla
Also called gorilla, they are located in western Africa, more specifically in the western part of the Congo River, in the same way they move through this area. The subspecies of this species are:
- Western Lowland Gorilla: Its scientific name is gorilla gorilla gorilla, they turn out to be the gorillas with the smallest physical structure, and they are found in the low areas of this region.
- Western River Gorilla: Named gorilla gorilla diehli, it is the subspecies that is in the most critical state, on the verge of extinction.
eastern gorilla
Also called gorilla beringei, as its name suggests, it is found in the eastern region of Africa, more specifically in the Congo River, in the eastern area. The subspecies are:
- Mountain gorilla: Named gorilla beringei beringei, they are the best known thanks to the extensive research carried out on them in 1980, where to know what do gorillas eat It was very important.
- Eastern Lowland Gorilla: its scientific name is gorilla beringei graueri, they also happen to be the most robust and corpulent, although they have less fur than the others.
What do gorillas eat?
With a physical structure like that of the gorilla, which can measure up to 1.80 meters and weigh up to more than 170 kilograms, they clearly need to have a very good diet to maintain their complexion and for the body to function properly. As we mentioned before, these animals are herbivores, which means that their diet is based mainly on plants and very rarely on tiny insects.
They are usually sustained by a kind of salad, combining stems with roots, which in turn also contain leaves with various fruits. It must be taken into account that the gorillas' diet varies a lot depending on their species, because when they are located in completely different habitats with variations in the vegetation, then their diet will not be the same.
A very interesting fact is that the gorilla that is already in the adult stage can eat up to 20 kilograms of foliage per day, that in males, females consume a little less in relation to size, although not all in the group They eat the same proportion.
The liquids that the body needs, can be obtained in most of the same fruits that they eat, in many occasions this animal usually subtracts food from the crops and orchards that the populations of men plant in areas close to the territories that serve as habitat of the gorilla. With this the question about what do gorillas eat is solved.
Feeding Process
Now that we know what do gorillas eat, it is important to highlight that feeding gorillas is not as easy as it seems, they make a lot of effort to get their food and since they need a large amount of food to be able to nourish themselves correctly, they spend much of their time eating plants , vegetables and fruits.
The excursions in search of food are extremely long and heavy, in addition to being daily for much of the day, when they get the food they need, then they use different techniques to get the most out of the food.
This process becomes so long and tedious, since these animals cannot survive feeding on only one specific plant species, but rather need to have access to a wide variety of plants to obtain all the nutrients they need.
However, gorillas have a great commitment to nature and their habitats, since unlike many species, they do not consume all the food in the area where they are, they only take care of eating enough to feel satisfied, all without needing to abuse.
This is the main reason for their long trips, that they move from one habitat to another and migrate to other areas practically every day, because even though they still have sustenance in the area where they are, they prefer to travel to obtain supplies in other places.