Western Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla
🦍
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Catarrhini
Hominidae
Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla
The genus name Gorilla originates from the Greek word “Γόριλλαι” (Gorillai), meaning “a tribe of hairy women,” first recorded by the Carthaginian explorer Hanno during his West African expedition (~500 BCE). The species epithet gorilla simply repeats the genus, emphasizing its archetypal status as the “true gorilla” or “typical representative” of the genus. The repetition underlines its taxonomic primacy among gorillas.
The Western Gorilla: The Forest Titan of Central Africa
Description
The Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is the largest living primate and one of humankind’s closest relatives, sharing over 98% of our DNA. It inhabits the dense rainforests and swampy lowlands of West and Central Africa, where it lives in small family groups led by a dominant silverback male. This species includes two subspecies—the Western Lowland Gorilla and the Cross River Gorilla. Western Gorillas play a vital ecological role as seed dispersers, shaping the composition of tropical forests. Their numbers are in decline due to poaching, habitat loss, and disease, particularly Ebola, which has devastated some populations.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
270
1.4
1.8
1.7
kg
m
m
m
Herbivore (frugivore-folivore)
Herbivore
Hunt History
Long before modern times, early humans in Africa likely interacted with gorillas through opportunistic scavenging and rare predation, though direct evidence is limited. Traditional forest-dwelling peoples hunted gorillas for meat and ritual purposes using spears and traps, often at great risk. Their immense strength made them formidable and respected animals, and in many cultures, hunting one was a test of bravery.
Archaeological Examples:
Cameroon (Late Pleistocene, ~40,000 years ago): Early hominin sites with large primate bones, possibly including proto-gorillas, show cut marks from stone tools.
Congo Basin (Holocene, ~7,000 years ago): Rock art and cultural remnants depict large apes, interpreted as early symbolic interactions between humans and gorillas.
Cross River Region (2,000 years ago): Evidence from ancient forager middens shows butchery marks on large primate remains consistent with gorilla hunting.
Modern-type Gorilla Bones (Central Africa, Holocene–Recent): True Gorilla fossils younger than about 20,000 years are exceedingly scarce. Most “early gorilla bones” are subfossil remains—fairly recent individuals preserved in caves or marshy sediments. These belong to the same species we see today (Gorilla gorilla or G. beringei).
Time & Range
Extinction Status
No
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
0
BP
Late Pleistocene to Modern
Central and West Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Angola)
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
15
Est. Renderable Fat
35
kg
Targeted Organs
Adipose Depots
Preferred Cuts
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
5