Gorilla, half scale skull
The gorilla is the largest living representative of the great apes, though there are larger apes in the fossil record.
Like all great apes, the fossil record is poor for gorillas.
These magnificent animals are now isolated to dense forests in central Africa and can be separated into lowland and mountain populations.
Strong sexual dimorphism is seen in gorillas, with males weighing up to 180kg and females weighing about half that.
Adult males have massive heads with immense bony ridges used for the attachment of strong jaw muscles.
The brain case is much smaller than the apparent size of the head.
The teeth of the gorilla have a U-shaped tooth row (thought to be an identifying trait of the great apes), large spoon-shaped incisors, large canines, large molars and a gap between the upper incisors and canines.
The large canines might suggest carnivorous diet, but actually represent tools for sexual display and effective defensive weapons.
The gorilla's diet consists of leaves, shoots and other vegetable material.
Model size: 14.5(L) x 7.6(W) x 10(H) cm
Notes:
- Half scale in three dimensions equates to one eighth scale in volume so models may appear smaller than expected
- This model is also part of the set of seven half-scale skulls
- A full scale gorilla skull model is also available
