Which two recognized subspecies comprise the Western Gorilla species (*Gorilla gorilla*)?
Answer
Western Lowland Gorilla (*G. g. gorilla*) and Cross River Gorilla (*G. b. diehli*)
The species known as the Western Gorilla, classified scientifically as *Gorilla gorilla*, is currently divided into two distinct subspecies based on geography and genetic differences. These are the widespread Western Lowland Gorilla, designated *G. g. gorilla*, and the critically endangered Cross River Gorilla, designated *G. b. diehli*. Recognizing these two subspecies is vital for conservation because their genetic separation reflects distinct evolutionary histories shaped by geographic isolation over differing timescales.
Related Questions
When did the Western Gorilla lineage diverge from the lineage leading to humans?Approximately when did the ancestors of Eastern (*G. beringei*) and Western (*G. gorilla*) gorillas split?Which two recognized subspecies comprise the Western Gorilla species (*Gorilla gorilla*)?What is the estimated divergence time between ancestors of the Cross River and Western Lowland Gorillas?What geographic feature acted as a barrier separating the Cross River Gorillas from the Lowland cousins?What complex genetic process occurred between diverging Eastern and Western gorilla populations before their final separation?What major environmental shifts are identified as sculptors of gorilla evolutionary history?How are typical gorilla societies structured around dominant males, according to social evolution insights?What conservation implication arises from the deep genetic separation of the Cross River Gorilla (*G. b. diehli*)?What genetic event affecting effective population size occurred prior to the split of Western and Eastern lineages?