Mountain Gorilla Stock Photo

Mountain Gorillas are peaceful, gentle, social, and mainly vegetarian creaturesThe occasional ferocious-looking, impressive displays are generally from a male gorilla to protect his family group from threatA typical group is led by the biggest and strongest mature male gorillaoften the guy doing any chest pounding or chargingHe's called a silverback because the hair on a male's back turns from black to silvery gray as he maturesThis happens when he is between 11 and 13 years oldA silverback's group normally includes a subadult male or two and a few females and their youngMountain gorillas wander around a home range of up to 15 square miles (39 square kilometers)Mountain gorillas spend much of their time eatingTheir food includes a variety of plants, along with a few insects and wormsAt night the animals make a nest to sleep inMany lightweight gorillas nest in trees, making beds of bent branchesThe heavier individuals may nest in grasses on the groundBabies snuggle with their mothers for the night