The Male Gorilla

The Male mountain gorilla is called a Silverback. The male gorilla was given this name because of the color of his back which is a light shiny gray. The male gorilla is not considered fully matured until the age of 13. He shows maturity from his back hair turning grey, his chest becoming hairless, and his arm hair becoming shaggier. Before the male becomes a silverback they are reffered to as blackbacks. Male mountain gorillas leave their family (group) eventually and go off on their own to find a female mate. However there is 3-5 female gorillas who join a males group. Sometimes another silverback can win over some of another males mates. If another mountain gorilla of any gender wants to join another silverbacks group then it will simply follow a few yards away. The silverback leader doesnt accept the other mountain gorilla at first sight. If a silverback looks another mountain gorilla (of any gender) strait in the eyes the other gorilla will look down to show that he or she is submissive over the leader silverback. Eventually the male leader will accept the other gorilla follower by showing the gorilla some kind of affection eather by giving them a load of vegetation or by grooming them. When a male gorilla has more than 1 female gorilla they become ranked. His first female would be ranked 1st and his second female would be ranked 2nd. Many people believe that male mountain gorillas are always aggressive and it is true that they are dangerous but they can be gentle at times to! If a male gorilla has an offspring the baby gorilla will obviosly want to play with his father. If the male father gorilla gets tired of his babys torture he will gently but harshly shove him off. Usually the baby will get the message and go off to find something else to mess around with. Scientists and veterinarians  believe that the male mountain gorilla can live up to about 35-40 years of age. Male gorillas can weigh up to about 450-500 pounds.

Take a look

It is very simple to tell a male mountain gorilla from a female mountain gorilla not only from the silver on the males back but their body looks much different. Their shoulders are usually broader and their arms look more muscular. Look at the picture on the right and notice the arms and the shape of his body. Females bodies are not as strong looking compared to the males. Do you notice any difference in the picture above and the picture below. The picture of the gorilla on the lefts fur seems quite lighter than the picture of the gorilla above. That is normal. Not all gorillas fur color is the same. Their fur is usually black but there is different shades of black. The one on the left seems like the color of charcoal and the fur on the silverback above seems like the color of the sky at night. And of course theres at least one or two gorillas out there whos fur color seems exactly the same. No problem! You can tell them apart with their nose prints!