Gorilla

Gorillas are the largest primates on Earth, but they're mostly gentle vegetarians who spend their days munching leaves and playing with their families. Each group, called a troop, is led by a wise older male called a silverback.

Gorillas live in the rainforests of central Africa, some in steamy lowland forests and some high in misty mountains where it can get surprisingly cold. They are the largest primates on Earth. Adult males are enormous, with long arms, a broad chest and a crest of muscle on top of the head, and an older male grows a saddle of silver-gray hair on his back — that is why he is called a silverback. Gorillas walk on their knuckles, sleep on the ground or in low trees, and are far gentler than their size suggests.

Gorillas are almost entirely vegetarian. They spend most of the day slowly working through leaves, stems, shoots and fruit, and a big male can eat a huge pile of plants before evening. Some groups also snack on ants and termites. Because their food is all around them, gorillas do not have to travel far or fight over it, which leaves plenty of time for resting, grooming each other and playing. Young gorillas chase, wrestle and swing on branches, and even a silverback will join a game.

A gorilla troop is a family led by one silverback, with several females and their young. The silverback decides where the group goes, settles arguments and stands between his family and any danger, usually with chest-beating and roaring rather than a real fight. A baby gorilla clings to its mother's chest, then rides on her back, and is not fully grown for many years. Every evening each gorilla builds a fresh nest of bent leaves and branches to sleep in. Gorillas are critically endangered: forests are being cut down and they are hunted, and only careful protection is keeping their numbers from falling further.

Here is every gorilla fact from this page and the gorilla quiz in one list — handy for a school project or a car-ride quiz.

1. Gorillas share about 98% of their DNA with humans.
2. A troop is led by a "silverback" — an older male with silver-gray hair on his back.
3. Gorillas build a brand-new sleeping nest out of leaves every single night.
4. They walk on their knuckles, which is called knuckle-walking.
5. Some gorillas have learned hundreds of words in sign language.
6. A big male gorilla can weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kg).

❓ Common questions about gorillas

No — gorillas are wild animals that belong in the wild, and keeping one would be unsafe and almost always illegal. But if gorillas are your favorite, here's the closest pet you actually can welcome home:

Meet the DogBecause no pet compares to a gorilla, but for a smart, social animal that bonds with its family, a dog comes closest. See care guide →

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