African jungles are home to both gorillas and chimpanzees, two species of great apes. But a lot of tourists frequently misidentify a gorilla for a chimpanzee or the other way around.
Though most of the tourists are always interested in understanding and knowing the differences between chimps and the gorillas and mostly in understanding between chimps and gorillas which one is smarter. There is more need of doubting any more this article answers all your questions.
While they may appear similar in pictures or at initially, these two primates are in fact two very different primate species. Therefore, we shall provide some of the ways they vary so that next time you are on a primate safari, you will be able to differentiate these two Great Apes like a pro.
While some comparisons are useful for identifying them from a distance, others may require you to approach a little bit closer.
Classification.
Although both gorillas and chimpanzees are classified as great apes, gorillas are members of the Gorillini tribe and Gorilla Genus, whereas chimpanzees are members of the Hominini tribe and Pan Genus.
Although there is no denying that humans and these primates are closely related, chimpanzees and humans share more DNA (98.6%) than gorillas (98.2%).
Body size and strength.
When compared side by side, you will find that gorillas weigh over 150 to 300 pounds more than chimpanzees do, and they are taller 4 to 6 feet as opposed to 3-5 feet for chimpanzees.
Mountain Gorillas.
Their varying degrees of strength also result from this. With a daily food intake of 18 to 30 kg, gorillas are among the strongest animals on Earth, which accounts for their enormous body mass.
Gorillas are actually the largest apes in their family tree, and it’s surprising to learn that they are ten times stronger and heavier than humans.
Body features.
Gorillas are more muscular with larger chests and longer arms and also have larger heads. Gorilla ears are smaller and directed to the back of their heads compared to Chimpanzee ears which are larger and protrude from their heads.
Additionally, the gorillas’ faces are darker than the chimpanzees’, with the latter having pinker faces.
Diet.
Even though gorillas and chimpanzees are both great apes, you’ll be interested in their diets. Gorillas are primarily herbivorous and their diet typically comprises of leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, tree barks, and bamboo shoots, which is quite different from the chimpanzees that are considered omnivorous.
They eat flowers, fruits, leaves, and even small animals monkeys in particular. Gorillas don’t exhibit this behavior; instead, they eat insects to augment their diet.
Levels of intelligence.
It is no brainer that both gorillas and chimpanzees are intelligent animals but when you compare the IQ of Gorillas vs Chimpanzees, chimpanzees beat gorillas hands down when it comes to intelligence.
Your mind will be astounded by their extraordinary intelligence when you see them on a Ugandan primate safari because of their closer kinship with humans and larger brains relative to body weight.
Though the chimpanzees are smaller in size they have bigger brains than the mountain gorillas hence making them more intelligent than the gorillas. This makes the chimpanzees more canning and tricky animals than the mountain gorillas.
Friendliness
During our primate tours, you will witness that gorillas and chimpanzees are social animals, but it is still true that the former are friendlier, more gregarious, and more aware of your presence.
Conversely, gorillas are grounded yet submissive, quite bashful, and prefer to go about their everyday lives.
Life span.
You will discover that chimpanzees and gorillas have different lifespans and that the latter have longer lifespans than the former.
Chimpanzees kept in captivity typically live between 50 and 60 years, compared to an average of 50 years in the wild. In the wild, gorillas typically live 45 years to 60 years.
While female chimpanzees won’t start reproducing until they are 13 to 15 years old, female gorillas start doing so at the age of 10 or 12. Even with identical gestation periods, female chimpanzees typically give birth to a larger number of children during their lifetimes.
