What is the Difference Between Lowland and Mountain Gorillas?

The main differences between lowland and mountain gorillas are their habitat, fur, and physical features. Here are the key distinctions:

1. Habitat: Mountain gorillas live in montane forests at higher elevations, typically between 1,500 and 4,000 meters, while lowland gorillas live in submontane forests at lower elevations. Mountain gorillas are found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while lowland gorillas are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Gabon, and Angola.
2. Fur: Mountain gorillas have longer, thicker, and darker fur, which helps them withstand the colder temperatures in their mountainous habitats. Lowland gorillas have shorter, lighter-colored fur, which can range from brown to reddish-brown.
3. Physical Features: Mountain gorillas are generally larger than lowland gorillas, with males weighing up to 400 pounds and standing at around 5.6 feet tall when fully upright. Lowland gorilla males weigh around 350 pounds and stand at about 5.3 feet tall. Mountain gorillas have a broader and more pronounced forehead, while lowland gorillas have a more rounded and less prominent forehead.
4. Facial Features: Mountain gorillas have shorter arms, larger teeth, nose, and jaw, while lowland gorillas have a shorter head and body hair.

In summary, mountain gorillas have darker, longer, and thicker fur, and are larger and less numerous than lowland gorillas, which have lighter fur and live in lower elevations.

Comparative Table: Lowland vs Mountain Gorillas

Here is a table comparing the differences between lowland and mountain gorillas:

In summary, lowland gorillas have lighter fur, are slightly smaller, live in lower elevations, and have larger social groups than mountain gorillas, which have darker fur, are larger, live in higher elevations, and have smaller social groups.