Gorillas are the largest living primates. They live in Central Africa. The mountain gorillas live in small areas in the middle of Central Africa. The other gorillas are called western gorillas and live in the area between the Congo River and the Atlantic Ocean.

Gorillas are herbivores. They mainly eat leaves, plant pulp and occasionally fruit.

Gorillas live in a strict harem structure. Females leave the group when they reach sexual maturity and join another group. The young males cannot join another group, as there is only one sexually mature male in each group. The harems are fought over. The males take the females away from each other. If a male captures a female with a child, this child is usually killed in order to make the female ready to conceive quickly.

Because the reproductive success of the males depends directly on their fighting success against other males, the males are more than twice as heavy as the females (up to 200 kg compared to 80 kg). Males have much larger canines than females.

Within the group, the gorillas are peaceful. The male also takes a little care of the young.

Gorillas are eared. The situation of the mountain gorillas is particularly critical.

Source:

Dian Fossey; Gorillas in the Mist – My Life with the Gentle Giants

Angela Meder; Gorillas – Ecology and Behavior