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Investigation

The Gorilla's Tale

colugo5

 

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Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

© David Pearce

When gorillas were first discovered by scientists, they were thought to be a kind of monkey.  Then, Darwin introduced the idea that we are related to Gorillas.  This caused some people to view them as grotesque, savage animals.  Many refused to believe that we could be related to them.  Some claimed that apes could be related only to black humans.  Because their relation to humans could not be denied nor explained, apes became an odd target of prejudice.  Now we know that gorillas are apes, not monkeys, and that all humans are equally related to them.  All of the apes came from a common ancestor.  We share 98% of our genes with gorillas.  We even call ourselves apes.  

Physical Characteristics


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Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

© David Pearce

 

 Lifestyle

 

 

Gorillas develop in basically the same way as humans before they are born.  Their life stages are egg, zygote, embryo, fetus, and adult.  The fetus stays in the womb for about 8.5 months.  Females become sexually mature adults at about 7 years old, but don’t usually reproduce until they are at least 10.  Males mature later and aren’t dominant enough to reproduce before 15 to 20 years of age.4

Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

© David Pearce

Gorillas are triploblastic animals.  This means that their embryos have three cell layers:  the endoderm (inner), the mesoderm (middle), and the ectoderm (outer).  They have a coelem, which is a body cavity that surrounds the internal organs and protects them from damage.  Gorillas are bilaterally symmetrical, meaning that their left and right sides are mirror images of each other. 

References

References

Busch Entertainment Corporation. Gorillas. SeaWorld/Busch Gardens ANIMALS. http://www.swbg-animals.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/index.htm. November 5, 2006.

Col, Jeananda. Enchanted Learning. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com 1996. November 5, 2006.

Dawkins, R. The Gorillas Tale. In "The Ancestor's Tale." (2004) Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York. pp. 95-97.

Smithsonian. Great Apes and Other Primates. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/Facts/FactSheets/Gorillas/default.cfm. November 5, 2006.

http://www.primates.com/gorillas/index.html. November 27, 2006.

[1] Busch Entertainment Corporation. Gorillas-Physical Characteristics. SeaWorld/Busch Gardens ANIMALS. http://www.swbg-animals.org/ animal-info/info-books/gorilla/physical-characteristics.htm. November 5, 2006.

[2] Smithsonian. Great Apes and Other Primates. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/Facts/FactSheets/Gorillas/default.cfm. November 5, 2006.

[3] Busch Entertainment Corporation. Gorillas-Longevity and Causes of Death. SeaWorld/Busch Gardens ANIMALS. http://www.swbg-animals.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/longevity.htm. November 5, 2006.

[4] Busch Entertainment Corporation. Gorillas-Reproduction. SeaWorld/Busch Gardens ANIMALS. http://www.swbg-animals.org/ animal-info/info-books/gorilla/reproduction.htm. November 5, 2006.

Learning Information

About This Page

Author: colugo5
Classroom Project: Visiting The Ancestor's Tale
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon USA

License: Tree of Life & Partners uses only - Version 1.0

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to , Oregon State University

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