How do Cross River gorillas behave?
In behavior that is more common to chimpanzees, Cross River gorillas have been observed throwing clumps of earth and tree branches at humans. Skeletal finds of Cross River gorillas have led scientists to speculate that these great apes may spend less time, than western lowland gorillas, chewing their food.
What are the behavioral adaptations of a gorilla?
Gorillas have adapted to socialization by use of body language and vocalization. These apes have expressive faces that help them to convey emotions, needs, and desires to other group members. This is one of the interesting behavioral adaptations of a gorilla. Silverbacks lead gorilla families.
How do Cross River gorillas protect themselves?
The sub-species of the western gorilla is best known nowadays because it has been found trying to respond against incredible odds. Fighting to protect themselves from bushmeat hunters, individuals have been observed throwing clumps of grass and even sticks, whereas normal responses always involve running away.
Are Cross River gorillas aggressive?
The dominant male and 6 or 7 females with their offspring compose family groups of Cross River gorillas. Although the other subspecies are mainly peaceful, the Cross River gorilla are aggressive against humans, launching branches, herbs and stones sometimes.
What is unique about the Cross River gorilla?
The Cross River Gorilla is a subspecies of the Western Gorilla. There are currently only 200-300 Cross River Gorillas left in the wild, making them the most endangered great ape in Africa. They live in mountainous border area between Cameroon and Nigeria at the top of the Cross River, after which they are named.
What makes Cross River gorillas unique?
The Cross River gorilla is not known to differ much in terms of body size or limb and bone length from western lowland gorillas. However, measurements taken from a male suggest that they have shorter hands and feet and have a larger opposability index than western lowland gorillas.
What adaptations do silverback gorillas have?
Lesson Summary Gorillas have many adaptations that help them to survive, like their opposable thumbs that help them to gather plants to eat and their large arm muscles for climbing trees, knuckle walking and defense. Troops of gorillas are protected by the silverbacks, who are the dominant males of the groups.
Why are Cross River gorillas endangered for kids?
The Cross River gorilla is threatened by humans as they were hunted extensively in the past – which is also why their numbers are pretty low. Human activities like deforestation also pose threats to these gorillas. The Cross River gorillas are the most endangered great apes in Africa.
Why are Cross River gorillas being poached?
The main reasons for endangerment of the Cross River gorilla are poaching, habitat destruction, and a loss of genetic diversity through inbreeding.
Why do Cross River gorillas matter?
Why it matters: The Cross River gorilla is the most threatened ape in Africa, with just 300 individuals remaining. Over 900,000 reptiles, birds and mammals are sold each year for bushmeat in the Nigeria-Cameroon border region.
How are Cross River gorillas being helped?
Train teams of eco-guards to improve the protection and monitoring of Cross River gorillas. Develop sustainable alternative livelihoods such as bee-keeping and ecotourism to reduce pressure on the forest. Increase local awareness about the status of Cross River gorillas and other threatened species.
Why are the Cross River gorillas in danger?
Cross River gorillas live in a region populated by many humans who have encroached upon the gorilla’s territory—clearing forests for timber and to create fields for agriculture and livestock. Poaching occurs in the forests as well, and the loss of even a few of these gorillas has a detrimental effect on such a small population.
What kind of hair does a Cross River gorilla have?
The coats of Cross River gorillas are typically brownish gray to black, and they have auburn-colored chests; a reddish crest adorns their cone-shaped heads (same as western lowland gorillas). Adult males sport a silvery swath of hair down their backs, a characteristic they share with all adult male gorillas, earning them the nickname silverback.
How are western lowland gorillas adapted to their habitat?
One physical adaptation is that males are almost twice as big as females. This adaptation helps the dominant male attract mates and defend the group from threats and from intruding males. There is actually a bigger difference in size between male and female western lowland gorillas than you see in other gorilla species.
What kind of food do Cross River gorillas eat?
By peeling back the outer layer of stem, the gorillas gain access to the soft and tasty center. They also eat the fruit. Compared to the dietary proclivities of western lowland gorillas, Cross River gorillas eat more liana (a woody vine) and tree bark throughout the year.
