Eastern lowland gorilla

subspecies of eastern gorilla endemic to the lowlands of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

The eastern lowland gorilla or Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) is a subspecies of eastern gorilla. It is native to the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Eastern lowland gorilla
Silverback in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Hominidae
Subfamily: Homininae
Genus: Gorilla
Species:
Subspecies:
G. b. graueri
Trinomial name
Gorilla beringei graueri
(Matschie, 1914)
Distribution range in green

It is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It has jet black coats like the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), although the hair is shorter on the head and body. The male's coat, like that of other gorillas, greys as the animal matures, resulting in the designation "silverback".

References change

  1. Plumptre, A.; Nixon, S.; Caillaud, D.; Hall, J. S.; Hart, J. A.; Nishuli, R.; Williamson, E. A. (2016). "Gorilla beringei ssp. graueri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. IUCN: e.T39995A17989838. Retrieved 4 September 2016.