How big do gorillas get?

When a male gorilla is full grown and standing up straight, he can reach about five and a half to six feet tall. He will weigh about 400 pounds and have the strength of four to eight strong men. His armspan - the distance from fingertip to fingertip when the arms are stretched out fully to each side - will be eight feet. Full grown females are smaller than males and weigh about 200 pounds.

Activity/Links:

1. Find out how your armspan compares to a full grown ape. Measure out eight feet on the classroom chalkboard. Stand against the board with your arms stretched out as far as you can. How wide is your armspan?
   
2. A male gorilla's height is about 6 feet tall, and his armspan is eight feet wide. Measure your height and armspan. Whose arms are longer in comparison to height, yours or the gorilla's? Why do you think this difference exists?
   
3. How do gorillas compare to other animals in size? Look up the weights and heights of the full-grown male of the following animals: