Silverback Gorilla Features, Behaviors, Habitat and Diet

A well-mature male mountain gorilla is called a silverback gorilla because of its distinctive silver-grayish patch of hairline that grows on its back as a result of aging. A male mountain gorilla reaches its sex maturity at around 8 years of age but it gets a silverback at about 12 to 14 years of age.

At this stage, its body gets more muscular and strongly built compared to other mountain gorillas.

Silverback Gorilla Weight

A matured and healthy silverback can typically weigh between 300 to 485 pounds (136 to 220 kilograms). However, they can even weigh more than that, especially in captivity where they get abundant nutritious, body-building foods.

Their weight also varies based on different factors such as age, health, diet, and habitat. silverbacks in the wild maintain their weight through their diet which majorly consists of leaves, stems, and occasionally fruits and insects.

Their robust bodies play a crucial role in their ability to protect their families against harm and maintain their position within their social structure.

Silverback Gorilla Height

when standing on two legs although it is occasional as they are often seen walking on all fours. A silverback gorilla can reach up to 5.5 to 6 feet tall when standing straight. However, because they are quadrupedal.

Despite their relatively similar standing height to an average human, silverback gorillas are far more massive, with males weighing between 300 to 500 pounds. Their strength and stature make them the largest primates in the world.

Silverback Gorilla Dominance

Silverback gorillas are leaders of the gorilla families with authority and power given only to the dominants. A silverback becomes dominant after conquering and fighting with the one in power or when the leader is critically sick or dead and the power to lead is transferred to it.

There can be more than one silverback in a specific gorilla group but they are always ranked according to their numbers with silverback number one, the dominant, being the head of the group and the rest have to abide by his rules.

On average, a gorilla group can hold about 10 to 20 members and these are all under the protection of a dominant silverback. A silverback is responsible for all the activities taking place in the group for example it decides where to nest, to feed from, who should join the group, fights against intruders, it mates with the males, responsible for restoring and maintaining peace and among within the gorilla group family.

A matured silverback in the gorilla-specific gorilla family can either decide to challenge the head of the family and if it wins, it takes over and the rest of the gorillas who don’t like him can decide to exit the family and join others. Or it can decide to leave its natal family peacefully and start its own family with a few females it might have got or join another group temporarily before establishing its own dominance.

Matured females reach sex maturity at about 10 years of age and also tend to exit their natal family groups to avoid inbreeding and join other groups.

A gorilla family with a good number of females grows faster in numbers compared to that with a few.

Females are generally selective about the males and prefer mating with the dominant and avoiding the backbacks.

During courtship, female gorillas tend to keep a close proximity to the dominant silverback as a way of getting his attention. However, they can also decide to mate occasionally with his subordinates, the other silverbacks in the group.

They have a gestation period of about 8.5 months and usually give birth to one infant as twins are very rare just like humans. They give birth at any time of the day but usually at night and the mother handles it by herself.

Just like humans, baby gorillas are highly dependent on their mothers but also a father is always there to play and protect them. They are nursed for about 3 to 4 years and during this time, they on breast milk for nutrition.

Female gorillas have a low reproduction rate, often reproducing once in every 4 to 5 years which slowly adds up in a group with fewer females.

The behavior, peace, and harmony of a gorilla group will majorly depend on its head, the dominant silverback.

When the head dies, a gorilla family tends to get divided with gorillas most especially the females and their infants joining other groups in search of protection or another silverback in line according to their ranking can take over the group.

Strength of a Silverback Gorilla

A fully grown and healthy silverback is about three times the weight of an adult healthy man and 9 times stronger than him. It has a strongly built body featured with a big head, displaying all its physical strength which can be seen by just mere looking at it.

Would a well-trained weight lifter challenge it; he would be brutally torn into pieces in seconds. However, silverbacks are humble and gentle species unless if threatened or challenged.

Silverback Gorilla Lifespan

Are Silverbacks Aggressive?

Silverbacks are gentle and humble species with these behaviors witnessed when they are with their families. They rarely use force unless if intimidated by other males who may want to intrude their families or challenge them. They are also aggressive when they encounter a threat from wild animals like leopards trying to attack their members.

However, a gorilla group which is not habituated should be encountered with care as it may turn out out to be aggressive as it is not familiar with humans and may sense your approach as harm.

This can be witnessed by it standing, beating its chest as a sign of warning you not to come close and if you persist, it will it will root up and throw plants and anything around it to the intruder being a human or an animal and still if it sees persistence, it will lively attack on all its fours and this will be deadly.

A silverback will protect and defend its group from any kind of arm to death. This is one of the major reasons as to why they are highly targeted by poachers if they want to trap and take an infant increasing their death rates.

What do silverback Gorillas Eat?

Silverback gorillas are typically herbivores animals mainly feeding on plants. They love eating fruits, leaves, stems, tree backs and roots. Occasionally, they also eat insects like termites, ants, grasshoppers, among others. Their diet is majorly determined by seasons (dry and wet seasons) as each comes rich in a specific kind of food.

Due to their massive bodies, silverbacks tend to eat a lot compared to other gorillas eating around one tone of greenery per day. Gorillas can spend the all-day eating and resting all night.

A silverback is responsible for discovering new feeding areas and then it will take its family there to enjoy. Mountain gorillas know where to find their food and water and tend to move long distances away from their habitats in search of food most especially during the dry seasons.

Silverback Gorilla Habitat

Silverback gorillas primarily inhabit dense tropical and subtropical forests in Africa. They are found in regions that offer a rich variety of vegetation, which is crucial for their herbivorous diet. silverbacks live in highly elevated habitats ranging from 8,000 to 13,000 feet (2,400 to 4,000 meters).

These habitats are characterized by thick vegetation including different plant species including bamboo forests, fruit-bearing trees, and dense underbrush. silverback habitats are typically humid and experience enough rainfall which supports the rapid growth of vegetation that they rely on.

Silverback gorillas are highly dependent on their forest habitats for food, shelter, and protection, making habitat conservation crucial for their survival.

Silverback Gorilla Speed

Silverback gorillas are surprisingly fast for their size, capable of reaching speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) in short bursts. Although they are primarily terrestrial and move in a knuckle-walking manner, they can sprint quickly when necessary, especially to protect their troop during playful encounters or when approaching their rivals.

Their powerful limbs and muscular build contribute to their speed, allowing them to cover ground efficiently. Despite this capability, silverbacks often prefer a more measured pace, reflecting their calm and deliberate nature as they navigate their forest habitats and interact with other gorillas.

Silverback Gorilla Bite Force

The bite force of a silverback gorilla is incredibly powerful, measuring around 1,300 to 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi). This immense strength is primarily due to their large jaw muscles and robust teeth, designed to crush tough vegetation like stems, leaves, and fruits.

In comparison, a human’s bite force averages around 160 psi. Silverbacks use their bite force not only for feeding but also for defense and social interactions within their troop. This formidable ability highlights their role as dominant herbivores in their habitat and underscores the importance of their conservation.

Silverback Gorilla Mating

A silverback, typically the dominant male, mates with multiple females in his harem during the females’ estrous cycle, which lasts about 2-to 3 days each month. During this time, females display specific behaviors to signal their readiness, such as increased grooming and vocalizations.

Gorilla Mating occurs frequently throughout the day, often accompanied by displays of affection, such as hugging and grooming. Gestation lasts around 8.5 months, after which the female gives birth to a single infant, fostering strong maternal bonds and social interactions within the troop.

Silverback Gorilla VS Grizzly Bear

In a hypothetical showdown between a silverback gorilla and a grizzly bear, the bear holds several advantages. Grizzly bears can weigh between 400 to 1,200 pounds and possess powerful claws and teeth, along with significant strength and speed. Silverback gorillas, weighing around 300 to 485 pounds, are incredibly strong and agile but lack the same level of weaponry.

Gorillas are intelligent and can use tools, but in a direct physical confrontation, the grizzly’s sheer size and power would likely give it the upper hand. Ultimately, both animals are formidable in their own environments, and adapted to their respective challenges.

Where to see Silverback Gorillas?

Silverback gorillas are typically found in the tropical dense forests of East, Central, and Western Africa. Lowland gorillas are sighted in dense forests and swamps along the Congo basin and mountain gorillas are typically seen at the Virunga conservation region and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda.

Western lowland gorillas are spread out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea and Mountain Gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park of Congo. Eastern lowland gorillas Maiko National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Tayna Gorilla Reserve, Itombwe Massif and Usala forest.