Mountain Gorilla

The Scientific name for the Mountain Gorilla is Gorilla beringei beringei. Mountain Gorillas are remarkably strong and have a short trunk and a broad chest and shoulders. The Mountain Gorilla is the hairiest race of gorillas. Its long, thick black hair insulates it from the cold living conditions at high elevations. When the males are mature they develop a streak of silver hair on their backs and are therefore called 'silverbacks.'

Adult male gorillas can reach 400 pounds, while females can reach about 200 pounds. Female gorillas don't have the crest on the top of their heads or silver on their backs like the males. When a silverback is standing upright, they can be as tall as 5 and a half to six feet tall. Normally gorillas walk on all fours, and are only about 3 and a half feet high at the shoulder.
There is the classic chest beating by male gorillas, which is used to show stature, scare off opponents or even to prevent a fight. When the Mountain Gorilla feels threatened they can make a variety of loud sounds, resembling roars or screams. Facial expressions are mostly used as communication. An open mouth with both upper and lower teeth showing means aggressions. A closed mouth with clenched teeth could signal anger.

One of the nicest sounds is heard when the group is resting after a period of feeding. Mountain gorillas roughly spend 30% of their day feeding, 30% traveling or moving, and 40% resting. At dusk, they prepare to settle down for the night and sleep in nests made of vegetation that the gorillas shove under and around them.