Trending Silverback
Congo, Africa
Western lowland 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.
The western lowland gorilla population faces a number of threats to its survival. These include deforestation, farming, grazing by domestic stock, and the expanding human settlements. Gorillas are hunted to provide meat for the bushmeat trade. It is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.
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