3.2 Two Species of Gorilla

A. What's a Species?

What is a species?

A species is a group of the same animal that can reproduce. Dogs are one species. Cats are another species. But sometimes, a group of animals has more than one species.

There are over 5,000 species or types of frogs.

There is also more than one species of gorilla.

What is a species?

B. Spot the Species

Scientists learn more about a species by studying its appearance and behavior. 

Directions: Here are three sets of photos of different primates. One set of photos has gorillas from the same species. 

  1. Study each set of photos and determine whether each set represents the same species or a different one. 
  2. Then check your answer by clicking the “learn more” button next to each set of images. 

Set 1:

Not the same

These gorillas look similar, but they are actually different species. The one of the left is an eastern gorilla. The one on the right is a western gorilla. Can you spot any physical differences between them?

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Set 2:

Same species

These are both western gorillas, and they are the same species. One is a baby and one is a child. They might look different because they are different sizes, but they are the same species of gorilla.

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Set 3:

Not the same

These are not the same species, but they are both primates. Primates are a group of animals that includes all kinds of monkeys and apes. They are similar species, but they are not the same. The one on the left is a western gorilla. The other is a chimpanzee.

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C. Explore

We know that a species is a group of the same kind of animal that can reproduce, but there is more to it. Sometimes, there are groups within a species. Dogs are all of the same species, but there are many different kinds of dogs. Those dogs have different features. 

 

Directions: Can you identify three things these dogs have in common and three ways they differ?

Think About It: What about gorillas, though? We know there are eastern gorillas and western gorillas, but are those the only two types? Are there other kinds within those two species? Make a prediction and then read on…. 

D. Read

Fact Finder: Now we’re going to read more about the different species of gorilla. As you read, write down any important information in the “Fact Finder” section of your Mission Log.

What are the different species of gorillas? Where do they live?

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