What feature causes mature adult male Western lowland gorillas to be called 'silverbacks'?
Answer
The saddle of silvery-white hair that develops on their backs.
Adult males in this subspecies develop a pronounced saddle of silvery-white hair across their backs as they reach maturity, which is the defining characteristic earning them the moniker 'silverback'. This physical marker signifies their dominance and experience within the social troop structure. This coloration is a key element of sexual dimorphism, as females lack this feature, and it plays a role in recognizing the dominant leader responsible for group decisions, protection, and leading foraging activities.
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