In terms of mass disparity, what weight relationship exists between adult male and female Western Gorillas?
Answer
Females often weigh around half as much as the males.
Western Gorillas exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism, where males are significantly larger and heavier than females. The adult female size is frequently described as being considerably smaller, specifically weighing around half the mass of the mature adult males (silverbacks). Where males typically range between 300 and 400 pounds, females usually fall between 150 and 200 pounds. This significant weight difference, reaching ratios where the male is nearly twice the female's mass, plays a crucial role in group structure, feeding competition, and defense dynamics.
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