Gorillas are the world’s largest primates, an impressive characteristic that often leads to questions about their physical scale and dimensions. As great apes known for their immense power and imposing presence, their size is a defining feature of the species. To understand this, it is necessary to examine the factual measurements of their height, weight, and other physical attributes across the different populations.
Defining the Average Gorilla Size
An adult male gorilla, commonly known as a silverback, possesses a dramatically larger build than most other primates. When standing upright, a male gorilla typically ranges in height from 1.4 to 1.8 meters (4 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 11 inches). These immense primates carry a significant amount of mass, with wild adult males generally weighing between 136 and 227 kilograms (300 to 500 pounds).
Female gorillas are noticeably shorter and lighter than their male counterparts. An adult female usually stands between 1.25 and 1.5 meters tall (4 feet 1 inch to 4 feet 11 inches). Their weight typically falls within the range of 68 to 113 kilograms (150 to 250 pounds). This general size range establishes the baseline for the species, but specific dimensions can shift considerably depending on the animal’s geographic location and genetics.
How Size Varies Among Subspecies
The four recognized gorilla subspecies exhibit measurable size variations, with Eastern gorillas generally surpassing Western gorillas in overall bulk. The Eastern Lowland Gorilla, or Grauer’s gorilla, is often considered the largest of the four, with some adult males weighing up to 220 kilograms (484 pounds) or more. These Eastern giants also tend to be the tallest, with males reaching up to 1.75 meters (5 feet 9 inches) or more when standing upright.
Mountain Gorillas, another Eastern subspecies, are heavily built, with males often weighing between 160 and 220 kilograms (350 to 485 pounds). Their thick, long fur is an adaptation to the colder, high-altitude forests they inhabit. The Western Lowland Gorillas are typically the smallest of the subspecies, with adult males having a mean weight closer to 169.5 kilograms (374 pounds). The Cross River Gorilla, the fourth subspecies, is similar in size to the Western Lowland Gorilla.
Understanding Sexual Dimorphism and Key Physical Attributes
The substantial difference in size between male and female gorillas is a clear example of sexual dimorphism; adult males can be nearly twice as heavy as females. This size differential results from males continuing their growth for a longer period than females, a process known as bimaturism.
The immense size of the male silverback is further accentuated by several other physical characteristics. Male gorillas possess a notably broad chest and a massive arm span that is significantly longer than their standing height. An adult male’s arm span can stretch from 2.3 to 2.6 meters (7 feet 7 inches to 8 feet 6 inches), reflecting their quadrupedal locomotion. The skull of a mature male features a pronounced bony ridge called the sagittal crest along the top midline of the cranium. This crest serves as an anchor point for the powerful jaw muscles, supporting the male’s large teeth and robust feeding habits.