Gorilla: the Habsburg-jawed, knuckle-walking and highly intelligent vocalists that rarely ever need to quench thirst because of its succulent diet of fruits and vegetations, is a member of the great ape family together with pan; which includes common chimpanzee and bonobo, pongo; which includes Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli orangutan, and homo; which comprises of the modern species of Humans.
Gorrilas are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos, as their DNA composition is highly similar to that of humans with around 95 to 99% match. They are closely related to chimpanzees and humans than they are to the bonobos however.
Gorillas are the largest living primates in the world and are ground-dwelling inhabitants of the tropical or subtropical forests of Sub-Saharan Africa. They have a predominantly herbivorous diet, consuming succulent vegetation and fruits with enough water content to quench their thirsts.
In this article, we’ll be discussing about the average mass, range mass and total mass of the different species and subspecies groups gorillas are spread into m. We’ll also be discussing about the birth mass of their newly born young.
How much do gorillas weigh in kg and pounds?
All gorillas today are spread across two specie groups. They include.
- Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla).
- Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei).
Both groups of gorillas (critically endangered) are distinguished by a lot of variations which includes varying density, size, hair color, length, culture and even facial width. Various subspecies also exist within each specie group and the above distinctions also applies to them.
Now that you know the two basic groups that the gorilla genera is divided into, let us discuss about the range mass of each category of gorillas including their individual subspecies (when necessary).
Before we do that however, here is how much gorillas weigh in general.
How much do gorillas weigh?
- In the wild, male gorillas weigh between 136 kg to 277 kg; 300 lb to 500 lb.
- In the wild, female gorillas weigh between 60 kg to 120 kg; 132 lb to 250 lb.
- The average weight of a male gorilla is 180 kg; 397 lb.
- The average weight of a female gorilla is 80 kg; 176 lb.
- The average weight of a gorilla is 143 kg; 315 lb.
- Male captive bred gorillas can weigh as much 310 kg; 684 lb.
How much do western gorillas weigh in kg and pounds?
Western gorrilas inhabit west central Africa; and are only separated from their eastern cousins by the second largest river (by discharge volume) in Africa (the congo river) and its tributaries.
Western gorrilas are the most populous species of the gorilla family and are often more lighter colored than their eastern counterparts. Their body hair coloration ranges from black, dark grey or dark brown to grey with a mostly “cheese-ball” colored forehead.
Western gorillas are split into two subspecies namely:
- The western low land gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
- The cross-river gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
These two subspecies vary from one another in both skull and tooth dimensions.
Before we dive fully into the weight of each subspecies of western gorilla however, here is how much western gorillas weight in a general sense.
How much do western gorillas weigh?
In the wild:
- In the wild, male western gorillas weigh between 90 kg to 200 kg; 198 lb to 441 lb.
- In the wild, female western gorillas weight between 60 kg to 120 kg; 132 lb to 265 lb.
- The average weight of a male western gorilla is 180 kg; 397 lb.
- The average weight of a female western gorilla is 90 kg; 199 lb.
- The average weight of a western gorilla is 110 kg; 243 lb.
In captivity:
Captive gorillas are larger and much heavier than their wild counterparts due to their more consistent food supply and less stress imposed by events such as predation and territoriality among a few others.
- Captive male western gorillas weigh between 140 kg to 275 kg; 309 lb to 606 lb.
- Captive female western gorillas weigh between 80 kg to 150 kg; 176 lb to 331 lb.
- The average weight of a captive male western gorilla is 150 kg; 331 lb.
- The average weight of a captive female western gorilla is 100 kg; 221 lb.
- The average weight of a captive western gorilla is 125 kg; 276 lb.
How much do western lowland gorillas weigh in kg and pounds?
Western lowland gorilla is the most abundant of the two subspecies of gorillas. It’s has a population estimate of 90,000 individuals spread across the montane ecosystem, primary and secondary forest and lowland swampland and marshes (as low as sea level) in west central Africa: south to the Congo River and east to the Oubangi River.
Lowland gorillas are generally smaller, slender and more agile than their mountan counterparts and as a result, the western lowland gorilla is the smallest of the four living subspecies of gorillas; regardless, they are still large and powerful gorillas.
Males, often those that lead troops are called sliverback and the subordinate younger males within the troops are called blackback.
They are called silverbacks because of the distinctive patch of sliver hair on their backs which comes with maturity; 11 years and over. Blackbacks are called so because of the black coloration of their backs which signifies their immature status.
The western lowland gorillas has a coarse body hair that is colored brown to gray with a reddish forehead and a jet black face and upper ventral areas along with some parts of the back.
Male western lowland gorillas:
- Male western lowland gorillas weigh between 120 kg to 210 kg.
- In pounds, male western lowland gorillas weigh between 265 lb to 463 lb.
- Captive western lowland gorillas often weigh heavier, as much as 275 kg; 606 lb.
Female western lowland gorillas:
- Female western lowland gorillas weigh between 65 kg to 120 kg.
- In pounds, female western lowland gorillas weigh between 143 lb to 265 lb.
Average:
- The average weight of a male western lowland gorilla is 146 kg; 321 lb.
- The average weight of a female western lowland gorillas is 70 kg; 154 lb.
- The average weight of a western lowland gorilla is 110 kg; 243 lb.
Overall:
- The total range mass of a western lowland gorilla is between 65 kg to 210 kg.
- In pounds, the total range mass of a western lowland gorilla is 143 lb to 463 lb.
How much do cross river gorillas weigh in kg, pounds and tons?
The cross river gorrila is the rarest of the two western subspecies and also of the four extant gorilla subspecies — with populations estimated to be fewer than 300 individuals.
Cross river gorilla is more western and northern than their lowland counterparts. Their range is dominant around the Nigerian/Cameroon border in the upper drainage of the crossriver. It inhabits the dense forested hills and mountains of these regions at elevations ranging from 150 m to 1,600 m (490 ft to 5,250 ft).
Cross river gorillas do not vary by a significant degree in terms of external size morphology from their lowland counterparts, but they can be distinguished from them using their dentition and skull morphology.
Male cross river gorillas:
- Male cross river gorillas weigh between 140 kg to 200 kg.
- In pounds, male cross river gorillas weigh between 309 lb to 441 lb.
- Captive cross river gorillas often weigh heavier, as much as 280 kg; 617 lb.
Female cross river gorillas:
- Female cross river gorillas weigh between 65 kg to 135 kg.
- In pounds, female cross river gorillas weigh between 143 lb to 298 lb.
Average:
- The average weight of a male cross river gorilla is 150 kg; 331 lb.
- The average weight of a female cross river gorillas is 72 kg; 159 lb.
- The average weight of a cross river gorilla is 115 kg; 254 lb.
Overall:
- The total range mass of a cross river gorilla is between 65 kg to 200 kg.
- In pounds, the total range mass of a cross river gorilla is 143 lb to 441 lb.
How much do eastern gorillas weigh?
Eastern gorillas are the largest of the two species of gorillas. They unfortunately however, are critically endangered due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.
A total of no more than 5,000 eastern gorilla species are estimated to be extant.
Eastern gorillas are more darkly colored than their western counterparts and also have the more thicker fur, longer face and much more broader chest than them.
Eastern gorillas are often darker overall and males have a sliver parch on their backs than becomes more pronounced, and turn white with age. For this reason, older and matured males gorillas are called silverbacks.
Just as with the western gorillas, the eastern species are also divided into two sub species namely:
- Eastern lowland gorillas
- Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)
The lowland gorillas are often the more slender, smaller and agile of the two species while the mountain counterparts, in addition to their bulk and might, have the thickest and longest hairs.
Eastern gorillas inhabit the montane cloud forest of the Virunga volcanoes that separate the Democratic republic of congo from Rwanda and Uganda — in east central Africa.
As per the tradition, before we dive fully into the weight of each subspecies of western gorilla, here is how much the eastern species of gorillas weigh in general.
How much do eastern gorillas weigh?
In the wild:
- In the wild, male eastern gorillas weigh between 140 kg to 270 kg; 309 lb to 595 lb.
- In the wild, female eastern gorillas weight between 90 kg to 130 kg; 198 lb to 287 lb.
- The average weight of a male eastern gorilla is 160 kg; 353 lb.
- The average weight of a female eastern gorilla is 95 kg; 210 lb.
- The average weight of an eastern gorilla is 140 kg; 309 lb.
In captivity:
Captive gorillas are generally much larger and heavier than their wild counterparts.
- Captive male eastern gorillas weigh between 140 kg to 310 kg; 309 lb to 684 lb.
- Captive female eastern gorillas weigh between 80 kg to 160 kg; 176 lb to 353 lb.
- The average weight of a captive male eastern gorilla is 180 kg; 397 lb.
- The average weight of a captive female eastern gorilla is 110 kg; 243 lb.
- The average weight of an eastern gorilla is 140 kg; 309 lb.
How much do eastern lowland gorillas weigh in kg and pounds?
Eastern lowland gorilla, or Grauer’s gorilla has range that forms in parts of the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The eastern lowland gorilla is the largest of the four extant gorilla species and also the largest living primates in the world.
Male eastern lowland gorillas:
- Male eastern lowland gorillas weigh between 160 kg to 270 kg.
- In pounds, male eastern lowland gorillas weigh between 353 lb to 595 lb.
- Captive eastern lowland gorillas often weigh heavier, as much as 290 kg; 639 lb.
Female eastern lowland gorillas:
- Female eastern lowland gorillas weigh between 70 kg to 130 kg.
- In pounds, female eastern lowland gorillas weigh between 154 lb to 287 lb.
Average:
- The average weight of a male eastern lowland gorilla is 190 kg; 419 lb.
- The average weight of a female eastern lowland gorillas is 90 kg; 198 lb.
- The average weight of an eastern lowland gorilla is 150 kg; 331 lb.
Overall:
- The total range mass of an eastern lowland gorilla is between 70 kg to 270 kg.
- In pounds, the total range mass of an eastern lowland gorilla is 154 lb 595 lb.
How much do mountain gorillas weigh in kg and pounds?
Mountain gorillas are lesser in number than their lowland counterparts. They are also smaller than them and are the second largest subspecies of gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are the east-most dwellers of the eastern gorilla species. Their range is divided into two groups; one found of in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa and the other mainly in Uganda. They inhabit the mountain cloud forests of these regions.
Mountain gorillas live in cold temperatures and as an adaptation, their furs are longer and thicker than the other four subspecies.
Their coat are silky and the coloration varies from blue-black to brownish grey. Males can have a really musty smell emerging out of their armpits when subjected to stress.
Male mountain gorillas:
- Male mountain gorillas weigh between 150 kg to 230 kg.
- In pounds, male mountain gorillas weigh between 331 lb to 507 lb.
- Captive mountain gorillas often weigh heavier, as much as 300 kg; 662 lb.
Female mountain gorillas:
- Female mountain gorillas weigh between 60 kg to 120 kg.
- In pounds, female mountain gorillas weigh between 132 lb to 265 lb.
Average:
- The average weight of a male mountain gorilla is 180 kg; 397 lb.
- The average weight of a female mountain gorillas is 80 kg; 176 lb.
- The average weight of a mountain gorilla is 145 kg; 320 lb.
Overall:
- The total range mass of a mountain gorilla is between 60 kg to 230 kg.
- In pounds, the total range mass of a mountain gorilla is 132 lb to 507 lb.
How much do baby gorillas weigh in kg and pounds?
Baby gorillas are born small and super vulnerable to felid predation.
Newborn of a baby gorilla
- Baby gorillas weigh between 2 to 4 kg at birth; 4.4 lb to 8.8 lb.
- Baby gorillas are born after nine months of gestation and are weaned after three years of suckling.
Average weight of baby gorilla
- The average weight of a newborn baby gorilla is 2 kg; 4.4 lb. comparatively similar to the average human birth weight at (2.5 kg).
The heaviest gorilla on record
The heaviest gorilla ever recorded was a male eastern lowland gorilla that was 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) tall and weight 267 kg. It was shot dead by hunters in Ambam, Cameroon.
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Cite this Article ” (APA Format)
Bunu. M. (2020, July 20). Gorilla Weight: How much do gorillas weigh?. Retrieved from http://emborawild.com/how-much-do-gorillas-weigh/