Madeleine Hull
Gorillas are known for their large muscle mass, which is all the more notable given their diet, which consists of mostly vegetation and fruit. In this paragraph, we will explore how many calories the gorilla diet contains and how this relates to their physical build.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories | 194 kcal metabolizable energy per 100 g dry weight |
| Macronutrient profile | 2.5% energy from fat, 24.3% protein, 15.8% available carbohydrate |
| Daily food intake | 60 pounds of vegetation |
| Diet composition | 70% fruit, 20% leaves, 3% termites and caterpillars, 7% roots, 3% flowers, 2% ants, snails, and grubs |
| Types of food | Bamboo shoots, celery, nettles, thistles, succulent herbs, wild berries, grubs, bugs, ants, rotting wood, small animals, stems, bamboo, fruits |
| Subspecies dietary differences | Western lowland gorilla: 67% fruit, 17% leaves, seeds, and stems, 3% termites and caterpillars; Eastern lowland gorilla: consumes parts of at least 104 plant species; Mountain gorilla: 86% leaves, shoots, and stems, 7% roots, 3% flowers, 2% fruit, 2% ants, snails, and grubs; Cross River gorilla: fruit, leaves, stems, piths, and some invertebrates |
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What You'll Learn
Gorillas eat a lot of fruit, leaves, and vegetables
Gorillas are very selective foragers and usually only eat certain parts of plants. They may choose to eat only the leaves, pith, stalk, or roots of a particular plant. With their agile lips and dexterous hands, they can manipulate the vegetation to consume only the portions they want. Additionally, gorillas do not overexploit an area for food. They crop the vegetation in a way that allows for quick replenishment, ensuring a sustainable food source.
An adult male Grauer's gorilla can consume up to 30 kg of plants in a day, while an adult female typically eats around 18 kg. To process these large quantities of plant material, gorillas have strong chewing muscles and teeth similar to those of humans, except for the long, pointed canines found in adult male gorillas. These canines are not used for feeding but rather for fighting and asserting dominance over other males.
In addition to their plant-based diet, gorillas also occasionally ingest soil, which may provide minerals that are lacking in their plant-based diet or help neutralize any poisonous substances they ingest. While gorillas do not typically consume large animals, they regularly eat small insects, which constitute less than 0.1% of their diet. This insect-eating behavior varies across regions and may even involve traditions in prey choice. Due to the high water content of their food, gorillas typically do not need to drink large amounts of water.
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They eat around 60 pounds of food per day
Gorillas are highly selective foragers. They are usually picky about the parts of vegetation they eat. For instance, they may choose to eat only the leaves, pith, stalk, or roots of a particular plant. They use their agile lips and hand dexterity to manipulate the vegetation to eat the portion they want. Gorillas do not overexploit an area for food. Instead, they crop the vegetation in a manner that allows for quick replenishment.
The diet of a gorilla varies depending on the subspecies and seasonality. For example, the Western lowland gorilla consumes parts of at least 97 plant species, with about 67% of their diet consisting of fruit, 17% consisting of leaves, seeds, and stems, and 3% consisting of termites and caterpillars. On the other hand, the mountain gorilla consumes parts of at least 142 plant species, with about 86% of their diet consisting of leaves, shoots, and stems, 7% consisting of roots, 3% consisting of flowers, 2% consisting of fruit, and the remaining 2% consisting of ants, snails, and grubs.
Mountain gorillas, also known as silverback gorillas, need to eat about 60 pounds of food every day to sustain their weight. Silverback gorillas are the dominant adult males of the group and usually develop the gray saddle that earns them their name at around 12 years old. They have three main feeding periods each day to reach their required food intake. Between these periods, they generally spend the rest of the day resting.
The gorilla colon is significantly more important than the human colon. This is because the fermentation of plant matter occurs in the colon, and gorillas obtain a lot of their energy from fermenting plant matter in their colon. Humans would have to drastically alter their digestive system to get the same results, not just recolonize their guts with bacteria.
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They eat a variety of plants, including bamboo and celery
Gorillas are very selective foragers. They usually only eat parts of vegetation, such as leaves, pith, stalk, or roots. They use their agile lips and hand dexterity to manipulate the vegetation to eat the portion they want. Gorillas do not overexploit an area for food. Instead, they crop the vegetation in a manner that allows for quick replenishment.
The composition of the gorilla's diet varies by subspecies and seasonality. For example, the Western lowland gorilla consumes parts of at least 97 plant species, with about 67% of their diet consisting of fruit, 17% consisting of leaves, seeds, and stems, and 3% consisting of termites and caterpillars. On the other hand, the Mountain gorilla consumes parts of at least 142 plant species, with about 86% of their diet consisting of leaves, shoots, and stems, 7% consisting of roots, 3% consisting of flowers, 2% consisting of fruit, and the remaining 2% consisting of ants, snails, and grubs.
Mountain gorillas have been observed feeding on over 100 different plant species, including bamboo and wild celery, which are among their favorite foods. Bamboo is a key food for gorillas and is very important for several reasons. Firstly, bamboo is always abundant, adaptable, and accessible, making it a reliable and sustainable food source. It can grow in a wide range of ecosystems, from forests to open grasslands, and can withstand different soil types and moisture levels. This allows bamboo to grow in areas where other plants may not survive, providing gorillas with a consistent food source. Secondly, bamboo has soft shoots and leaves that are high in fiber, promoting healthy digestion and reducing the risk of digestive disorders in gorillas. Additionally, bamboo contains essential vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, manganese, and copper, which contribute to the overall health and growth of gorillas.
The way gorillas prepare and consume bamboo is unique. They often mix bamboo shoots and leaves with drier leaves, demonstrating their clever and adaptable eating habits. This may be to counter the high water content of the shoots or to neutralize compounds that could upset their digestive tract. Gorillas also display a strong attraction to bamboo because of its texture, and some individuals even show a clear preference for certain bamboo species over others. This preference for bamboo is an important social behavior, as gorillas often come together to feed on bamboo while communicating through body language.
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Gorillas are selective foragers, eating only parts of vegetation
Gorillas are herbivores, and their diet consists of a wide variety of plant-based foods, with green leaves and fruits being the primary components. They are very selective foragers and eat only certain parts of the vegetation, such as leaves, fruits, and seeds. They use their agile lips and hand dexterity to manipulate the vegetation for the particular portion they want to consume. For example, they may eat only the leaves, pith, stalk, or roots of a particular plant.
The composition of the gorilla's diet varies by subspecies and seasonality. The Western Lowland gorilla consumes parts of at least 97 plant species. About 67% of their diet is fruit, 17% is leaves, seeds, and stems, and 3% is termites and caterpillars. In contrast, the Mountain gorilla consumes parts of at least 142 plant species but only 3 types of fruit, as there is hardly any fruit available due to the high altitude. About 86% of their diet is leaves, shoots, and stems, 7% is roots, 3% is flowers, 2% is fruit, and the remaining 2% is ants, snails, and grubs.
Eastern lowland gorillas are quite specific when it comes to the plants they eat. Experts have identified 104 species of plants that they consume in parts and only 3 kinds of fruit. The diet of Cross River gorillas is not as well studied, but it is known to include fruit, leaves, stems, piths, and some invertebrates.
Gorillas have a varied diet depending on their subspecies and the season. They consume parts of numerous plant species, and their nutritional needs are met through their herbivorous diet and unique digestive system. They exhibit selective foraging behavior, using their strength to break apart vegetation. They spend a significant amount of time each day, approximately 50%, eating and foraging for food.
Gorillas are able to survive on vegetation such as leaves, stems, roots, vines, herbs, trees, and grasses, but such vegetation has relatively low nutritional quality. Therefore, they must consume a larger quantity—an adult male gorilla may consume more than 18 kg (40 lbs.) of vegetation per day. To be able to process these masses of plant material, gorillas have very strong chewing muscles.
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Gut bacteria help gorillas derive energy from their diet
The gorilla diet consists of a large variety of vegetation, including fruits, leaves, seeds, stems, roots, and some invertebrates. The composition of the diet varies by subspecies and seasonality. For example, the Western lowland gorilla subspecies consumes parts of at least 97 plant species, with about 67% of their diet consisting of fruit, 17% leaves, seeds, and stems, and 3% termites and caterpillars. In contrast, the Mountain gorilla subspecies consumes parts of at least 142 plant species, with about 86% of their diet consisting of leaves, shoots, and stems, 7% roots, 3% flowers, 2% fruit, and the remaining 2% ants, snails, and grubs.
Despite consuming a primarily herbivorous diet, gorillas are able to maintain their large muscle mass due to the presence of gut bacteria that can ferment cellulose (fiber) and turn it into short-chain fatty acids, a rich source of energy. This process occurs primarily in the gorilla colon, which is proportionally larger than that of humans, and allows gorillas to derive significant calories from their diet.
The gut bacteria in gorillas can also break down plant proteins, allowing them to absorb amino acids that contribute to their muscle mass. In addition, the longer gastrointestinal tract in gorillas, as compared to humans, facilitates the breakdown and absorption of plant matter, including complex polysaccharides found in unprocessed plants.
The gut microbiome in gorillas can be influenced by their diet, with captive gorillas fed similar diets showing higher similarity in their microbiomes than wild gorillas. Furthermore, studies have identified a wide range of bacterial species in gorilla fecal samples, including potential human pathogens, suggesting that gorillas may be a reservoir for zoonotic diseases.
While the gut bacteria and hardware of gorillas allow them to efficiently derive energy from their diet, humans lack the same bacterial composition and digestive structure to break down cellulose and absorb energy from fiber in the same way.
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Frequently asked questions
On average, a gorilla can consume up to 4,000 calories a day.
Gorillas are primarily vegetarian, with a diet consisting of fruits, leaves, stems, bamboo shoots, and other vegetation. They also occasionally eat small animals such as insects, grubs, and ants.
Gorillas typically consume large amounts of food, with estimates ranging from 40 to 60 pounds of vegetation per day.
Gorillas have gut bacteria capable of fermenting cellulose (fiber) into short-chain fatty acids, providing them with a rich source of energy. Additionally, their longer gastrointestinal tract and larger cecum aid in digesting plant matter efficiently.
