LOCOMOTION


The gorilla moves quadrupedally, and has a special kind of quadrupedal gait called knuckle-walking (Fleagle, 1988). Unlike other quadrupedal primates which support their weight on the palms of the hands, gorillas support their weight on the dorsal surface of the third and fourth digits of the curled hands (Fleagle, 1988). When they travel through trees they climb, but are unable to move by suspensory behavior (Fleagle, 1988).

[Gorilla] [Morphology] [Range] [Ecology] [Locomotion] [Social Behavior] [Vocal Communication] [Olfactory Communication] [Visual Communication] [Tactile Communication] [Reproduction] [References] [Gorilla Links] [Primate Behavior]