Gorilla
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The gorilla is the largest of the apes, native to the forests of central Africa. Figuratively a gorilla connotes a big and brutish man or a thug. With other primates like Orangutans representations of the Gorilla are common in popular culture in the United States of America - with the full range of electronic media having gorillas as mascots, gorillas behaving like humans, and humans behaving like gorillas.
Communication
Twenty-five distinct vocalisations are recognised, many of which are used primarily for group communication within dense vegetation. Sounds classified as grunts and barks are heard most frequently while traveling, and indicate the whereabouts of individual group members. They may also be used during social interactions when discipline is required. Screams and roars signal alarm or warning, and are produced most often by silverbacks. Deep, rumbling belches suggest contentment and are heard frequently during feeding and resting periods. They are the most common form of intragroup communication.
For this reason, conflicts are most often resolved by displays and other threat behaviours that are intended to intimidate without becoming physical. The ritualized charge display is unique to gorillas. The entire sequence has nine steps: (1) progressively quickening hooting, (2) symbolic feeding, (3) rising bipedally, (4) throwing vegetation, (5) chest-beating with cupped hands, (6) one leg kick, (7) sideways running, two-legged to four-legged, (8) slapping and tearing vegetation, and (9) thumping the ground with palms to end display.
Namesakes