Want to know what the strength of a silverback gorilla is? Gorillas are predominantly the largest living primates in the world and closely related to human beings by DNA. It is known that they share up to 98% of their genetics with people. Gorillas are subdivided into 4 distinct species, namely mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, western lowland gorillas, and riverine gorillas. So how strong is a silverback gorilla?
Of all these species, mountain gorillas are the strongest and the most sought after by many travelers due to their limited numbers. Endemic only to the Virunga conservation region in Eastern Africa, mountain gorillas are incredibly fascinating and strong animals. This is because of their remarkable resemblance to humans.
These primates are not only strong but also very intelligent, and it is believed that a gorilla is capable of tearing down a banana tree. The strength of mountain gorillas is somewhat scary but also impressive, as they rank among the world’s 10 strongest animals and weigh ten times more than humans.
Silverback gorillas are, however, the “alpha male mountain gorillas”. These are huge beings, with a patch of silver hair on their back and flanks which develops when the gorilla is fully grown. Silverbacks weigh up to 400 pounds on average and stand 6 feet tall when standing on their hind limbs. They are significantly heavier than female gorillas, which can weigh up to 200 pounds and stand 4 feet tall. The heads of Silverbacks tend to be larger than those of females due to a ridge on their skull which serves as an attachment point for their large jaw muscles.
Female gorillas have shorter arm lengths compared to silverbacks, which stretch to up to 2.3-2.6m. At the age of 13, a male gorilla is referred to as a silverback when most features begin to show on its body, such as a patch of silver fur on its back and flanks, and that’s when they leave their mother groups to find other families and attain dominance.
Regardless of their peaceful, gentle, and calm nature, a Silverback can be furious and may attack anything that presents itself as a threat to his family.
Why are Silverbacks so Strong?
Silverbacks are naturally strong because of their vegetarian diet and sizable muscles. The alignment of their bones; the outer part has a very thick cortex, with massive bumps and protrusions connected to muscles to withstand high stress.
Silverback Gorilla Strength Facts:
- A silverback gorilla’s grip is so strong that it can easily crush a mature crocodile.
- Silverback gorillas can climb trees and swing from branch to branch despite their immense strength, which can reach up to 250kg.
- Gorillas mostly rely on their arms to walk and rarely use their legs for movement.
- The strength of a silverback gorilla’s bite is 1300 PSI.
- A silverback gorilla can carry over 815 kg (1800 lb.) of dead weight.
- The muscles in a silverback’s arms are much larger compared to those in their legs.
- An adult silverback gorilla is four to nine times stronger than an average human being.
- A silverback can easily bend an iron bar of a cage.
Despite their immense strength, silverback gorillas do not unnecessarily attack other animals or human beings. They will only use their strength for self-defense or when threatened, unlike other animals. They also do not use their strength to hunt because they are primarily vegetarian.
