The largest of the great apes, gorillas are known as the gentle giants. Silverback gorillas are not one of the numerous subspecies of gorillas. When discussing mature male gorillas, the term “silverback” is frequently employed. Actually, the term describes the silver-gray fur of mature male gorillas who are sexually mature. Given this, what is the strength of silverback gorillas?
About 1,800 pounds can be lifted and thrown by silverback gorillas. That is thirteen times greater than the average man. Silverback gorillas are capable of lifting large objects and have a strong bite that can exert 1,300 PSI. This is almost eight times stronger than a human biting force and double that of a lion.
Here are a few quick facts on silverback gorilla strength:
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- Silverback gorilla bite force: 1,300 PSI
- Gorilla arm strength (lifting): 1,800 pounds
- Length of arms of a silverback gorilla: 7–8 feet
- Male gorilla weight: 310 to 500 pounds
- Silverback gorilla standing height: 5 to 6 feet
How Strong Are Silverback Gorillas?
Silverback gorillas are the biggest and strongest of all the great apes when they are mature males. A silverback’s actual dimensions and mass vary according on the species.
Gorillas are divided into two species, each of which contains several subspecies. The largest gorillas are those found in the West; adult males can weigh up to 500 pounds. Even though eastern gorillas are smaller, mature silverbacks can weigh more than 400–450 pounds.
The following table contrasts the stature and mass of several silverback gorillas:
| Silverback gorilla subspecies | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain gorilla | 5 ½ – 6 feet | 400 – 485 lbs. |
| Western gorilla | 6 feet | 500 lbs. |
| Gorillas of the Eastern Lowlands | 5 – 5 ½ feet | 330 – 460 lbs. |
| river gorilla | 5 ½ feet | 440 lbs. |
Sea also: Can Gorillas Swim?(5 Best Reasons Why Not)
How Strong Is A Silverback’s Punch?
An individual silverback gorilla can smash through bones with a punch that can reach up to 2,700 pounds. A silverback gorilla’s punch is almost thirty times stronger than a man’s.
That being said, this does not imply that gorillas constantly deliver forceful blows. A gorilla’s punch force is determined by its weight and velocity at the time of impact, just like in boxing. A gorilla’s punching power can range from 12,500 lb.-ft./s to 12,500 lb.-s, depending on its weight and top speed. This force is comparable to that of a tiger from Sumatra.
Gorillas are strong not just when they punch but when they hold as well. Although no scientific studies have been conducted, it is reasonable to believe that gorillas are stronger than orangutans, as they are known to have a grip strength of approximately 600 pounds.
In addition to being the biggest primates, silverback gorillas also have enormous hands. A silverback gorilla’s hand measures around 12 by 6 inches. In contrast, the average man’s hand measures 7.6 by 3.5 inches.
Legs
Gorillas have powerful rear limbs in addition to their powerful forelimbs. Gorillas use all four limbs, similar to legs, for running. There are very few instances in which bipeds move other than to eat or socialize.
The existence of powerful muscles in the front and hind limbs is explained by this kind of movement. Actually, the front limbs of gorillas include roughly 36.6% of their total muscular mass, whereas the back limbs contain about 42.5%.
Even with their powerful limbs, gorillas are not very fast. They employ the majority of their limb strength to sustain their own body weight. A gorilla’s average speed can reach as much as twenty miles per hour. Bigger silverback gorillas may travel up to 25 miles per hour, making them marginally faster.
Bite Force
The bite force of a silverback gorilla can reach 1,300 PSI, and they have strong jaws. With a bite force of approximately 162 PSI, they have the strongest bite force of any great ape and certainly stronger than that of humans.
The bite of a silverback gorilla is deadly for reasons other than just jaw force. The apes also have long, sharp canines that can reach a length of two inches, along with big teeth.
Gorillas appear to primarily use their showy teeth as a defensive measure against intruders. But gorillas’ powerful jaws and pointed teeth allow them to effortlessly rip meat off bones and penetrate through skin.
Male vs. Female Silverback Strength
Gorillas are sexually dimorphic, which means that mature male silverback gorillas and females differ greatly in size.
The size of a female gorilla is approximately half that of a mature male. Adult female gorillas weigh between 150 and 250 pounds on average. Depending on the species, their typical height ranges from 4 to 4.11 feet, making them lower than males as well.
These variations account for the roughly two-fold increase in strength between silverback and female gorillas.
How Strong Are Silverback Gorillas Compared To Humans?
The strongest of all the great apes, silverback gorillas are far more powerful than humans. A silverback gorilla’s strength is generally nine times that of an average man. Still, some of the biggest silverbacks are stronger than others.
A silverback gorilla, for example, has a lift force of approximately 1,800 pounds. A man with little training can lift anywhere from 135 to 175 pounds. Put another way, a silverback gorilla has ten to thirteen times the strength of an average person.
An eight-fold increase in bite force is observed between a silverback gorilla and a human. In addition, gorillas’ punch strength is up to 30 times more than that of the typical human and roughly 11 times greater than that of a trained man.
How Are Silverback Gorillas So Strong?
Because gorillas mostly eat plants, their strength comes more from their size than from environmental adaption. They don’t have to hunt to survive, but while protecting themselves from predators, their strength is useful.
Compared to other species, such as crocodiles and leopards, gorillas have fewer natural predators since they are herbivores. They are protected from smaller predators by their great strength and size.
Do you know of anything that is more powerful than a silverback gorilla? Mammals with greater strength are grizzly bears and elephants.
Silverback Gorilla vs. Grizzly Bear Strength Comparison
Although they are the strongest of all the great apes, silverback gorillas are not as strong as grizzly bears. Grizzly bears are larger and more powerful than gorillas, and they also exhibit aggressive behavior that makes them more likely to prevail in combat.
The strength of a grizzly bear and a silverback gorilla is contrasted in the table below:
| Characteristic | Silverback gorilla | Grizzly bear |
|---|---|---|
| Bite force | 1,300 PSI | 975 PSI |
| Strike force | 12,500 lb.-ft./s | 47,600 lb.-ft./s |
| Lift force | 1,800 lbs. | 1,400 lbs. |
| Speed | 20 mph | 28 mph |
| Weight | 500 lbs. | 1,700 lbs. |
Grizzly bears are not as strong as silverback gorillas when compared in terms of size. They can lift more than their own body weight in addition to having a stronger bite. Because of their weaker jaws, grizzly bears can only lift roughly 0.8 times their own body weight.
But grizzly bears weigh a lot more than silverback gorillas do. They might also strike faster and with more power. A grizzly bear would defeat a silverback gorilla ten times out of ten in a one-on-one match.
Frequently Ask Question(FAQs)
What is the punch strength of a silverback gorilla?
between 1300 and 2700
Silverback gorillas have a bite force of 1300 PSI and a punch force that varies from 1300 to 2700 PSI. A female silverback weighs 130 to 180 lbs, whereas a male weighs 350 lbs.
Could a man defeat a gorilla with his fists?
No human can not defeat a gorilla.
Can a grizzly bear be defeated to a silverback gorilla?
Although the grizzly and gorilla bite strengths are comparable, the bear’s physique makes it more difficult for a gorilla to bite with the same force. The primary advantage of the grizzly is its claws, while the gorilla’s greatest advantage is its agile agility. Despite being bigger, the gorilla is stronger than the grizzly.