A close up image of a male silverback western lowland gorilla in congo, west africa.

Silverback Portrait

Congo, Africa

The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is the smallest subspecies of gorilla, and one of two subspecies of the western gorilla. It is found in the forests and lowland swamps of central, western Africa.

These gorillas have black skin along with coarse black hair that covers their entire body except for the face, ears, hands and feet. The hair on the back and rump of males becomes gray as they get older, hence they are deemed "silverbacks". They have large hands with large thumbs, with nails on all digits. Their faces have short muzzles, prominent brow ridges, large nostrils and small eyes and ears. Adult males’ heads look conical due to the large bony crests on the top and back of the skull. These crests anchor large, strong muscles that control a jaw containing frontal canines and large molars in the back for grinding fruit and vegetation.

Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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