Within an established troop, what factor usually grants a female the highest rank?
Answer
Caring for the youngest and most vulnerable infant
The female caring for the most dependent infant usually holds the highest rank because her offspring requires the silverback’s most direct protection.
Related Questions
What terms are most widely accepted for describing a collective of gorillas?What is the designation for the single, mature adult male leading a typical gorilla group?What term describes younger males in a group who have not yet developed their silver saddle marking?What environmental factor primarily leads to differences in typical group size between Western and Eastern gorillas?What key structural difference is often seen in larger Eastern gorilla groups?What typically happens to a Western lowland gorilla group if the silverback dies?Why do female gorillas commonly emigrate from their birth group upon reaching sexual maturity?Within an established troop, what factor usually grants a female the highest rank?What is the primary purpose of a bachelor group for young, maturing males?What is the silverback's primary method for enforcing his dominance?