mountain gorilla: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1scientific, journalistic, educational, conservation contexts
Quick answer
What does “mountain gorilla” mean?
A large primate of the species Gorilla beringei beringei, native to the volcanic mountain ranges of Central Africa, characterized by longer, thicker fur than other gorilla subspecies and critically endangered status.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large primate of the species Gorilla beringei beringei, native to the volcanic mountain ranges of Central Africa, characterized by longer, thicker fur than other gorilla subspecies and critically endangered status.
A symbol of conservation efforts, wilderness preservation, and flagship species for biodiversity; sometimes used metaphorically to represent something rare, powerful, and endangered.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None in term itself; differences appear in surrounding context (e.g., 'national park' vs. 'game reserve' phrasing).
Connotations
Identical strong connotations of endangerment and conservation urgency.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British media due to prominent conservation charities like WWF-UK.
Grammar
How to Use “mountain gorilla” in a Sentence
The mountain gorilla (verb) in the forests.Conservationists (verb) the mountain gorilla.There are only (number) mountain gorillas remaining.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mountain gorilla” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The mountain-gorilla project received new funding.
- Mountain-gorilla habitat is shrinking.
American English
- The mountain gorilla project got new grants.
- Mountain gorilla habitat is decreasing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in ecotourism or CSR reports ('Our foundation supports mountain gorilla conservation').
Academic
Frequent in zoology, biology, conservation science papers discussing subspecies, ecology, or population genetics.
Everyday
In news/documentaries about wildlife conservation.
Technical
Used in IUCN Red List, CITES documents, and ecological census reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mountain gorilla”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mountain gorilla”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mountain gorilla”
- Using 'mountain gorilla' to refer to any gorilla in a zoo with a rocky exhibit.
- Omitting 'mountain' when specificity is needed, thus confusing it with other gorilla subspecies.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different subspecies. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are one of two subspecies of the Eastern gorilla, while lowland gorillas refer to subspecies of the Western gorilla.
They gained fame through the work of primatologists like Dian Fossey, their critically endangered status, and their impressive size and proximity to human observers in ecotourism.
Extremely rarely. They are not suited to typical zoo environments and almost all existing mountain gorillas are in their native habitat. Conservation focuses on in-situ protection.
As of recent census data (2023-2024), the total population is estimated to be just over 1,000 individuals, spread between the Virunga Massif and Bwindi Forest.
A large primate of the species Gorilla beringei beringei, native to the volcanic mountain ranges of Central Africa, characterized by longer, thicker fur than other gorilla subspecies and critically endangered status.
Mountain gorilla is usually scientific, journalistic, educational, conservation contexts in register.
Mountain gorilla: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmaʊn.tɪn ɡəˈrɪl.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmaʊn.tən ɡəˈrɪl.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MOUNTAIN = high, cold place → mountain gorillas have thicker fur and live in high elevations.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA AS A BAROMETER OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH; A GENTLE GIANT ON THE BRINK.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason mountain gorillas are considered a distinct subspecies?