Which two distinct species are recognized within the genus *Gorilla*?
Answer
Eastern Gorilla (*Gorilla beringei*) and Western Gorilla (*Gorilla gorilla*)
The genus *Gorilla* is officially subdivided into two separate and distinct species based on millions of years of evolutionary divergence and geographical separation. These two species are the Eastern Gorilla, formally designated *Gorilla beringei*, and the Western Gorilla, designated *Gorilla gorilla*. This primary split dictates major differences in genetics and morphology, reinforced by physical barriers like the Congo River separating their respective habitats, leading to distinct evolutionary trajectories for these two major lineages of gorillas.
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