AnAge entry for Gorilla gorilla

Classification (HAGRID: 02788)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Primates (Taxon entry)
                Family: Hominidae
                    Genus: Gorilla
Species
Gorilla gorilla
Common name
Gorilla

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
60.1 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 1151
Sample size
Large
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Little is known about ageing in gorillas. One study in the wild on the /beringei/ subspecies found that females can live over 43 years [1091]. Moreover, one wild born female was about 53.5 years when she died in captivity [0671]. The record longevity, however, appears to belong to a female called "Colo" that died at Columbus Zoo in Ohio at 60.1 years of age. "Colo" was the first gorilla born in a zoo. Cause of death was unknown but she had previously had cancer. Another female called "Jenny" died at Dallas Zoo from an inoperable stomach tumour at 55.4 years of age and, although anecdotal, apparently showed early signs of cataracts.

Both wild and in captivity members of the /beringei/ subspecies have shown signs of Aβ and a limited tau pathology with age [1399]. Furthermore, mountainous /beringei/ gorillas suffer less from dental senescence, when compared with other primates, maintaining dental function throughout their long lifespan [1400].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
2,829 days
Male sexual maturity
4,015 days
Gestation
256 days
Weaning
Litter size
1 (viviparous)
Litters per year
0.3
Inter-litter interval
1,397 days
Weight at birth
2,061 g
Weight at weaning
Adult weight
139,842 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.0008 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
Maximum longevity residual
200%

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
309ºK or 35.5ºC or 95.9ºF
Basal metabolic rate
Not yet available

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 573080
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9593
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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