Cross River Gorilla
Ecology
Physical Description
The cross river gorilla differs from the western lowland subspecies in skull and tooth dimensions.
Diet
Gorillas are mainly herbivorous; their staple foods are pith, shoots and leaves. Fruits are also an important component of their diet and are consumed according to their seasonal availability. In drier months, when fruits are scarce, gorillas supplement their diet with leaves, bark and rotten wood. They have also been known to eat termites and weaver ants.
Reproduction
Females become sexually mature at 7-8 years old but do not start to breed until several years later. Males mature later than females with few breeding before the age of 15 years.
High infant mortality, a long gestation (eight and a half months), a tendency for single births and a prolonged period of maternal care mean that on average only one infant is reared in a 4 to 6 year period. Females generally give birth to only 3-4 surviving young during their reproductive life.
