How long ago did the evolutionary split occur between Western Lowland and Cross River Gorillas?
Answer
Around 17,800 years ago
While the split between the western and eastern gorilla lineages is ancient, the evolutionary divergence that created the two distinct subspecies within the western group—the widespread Western Lowland Gorilla and the rarer Cross River Gorilla—is much more recent. Genetic evidence points to this specific separation event occurring approximately 17,800 years ago. This timing is noteworthy because it places the divergence squarely within the Pleistocene epoch, an era characterized by significant global climatic fluctuations, which are believed to have been the primary mechanism driving this geographic isolation.
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