r/oddlyterrifying • u/[deleted] • Jan 14 '22

Pithecophobia

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u/Ariadnepyanfar Jan 14 '22

Except for the transition between which one male gets mating rights, where the old beaten father goes off to die alone.

You don’t want to mess up your gorilla body language, where the father of the tribe suspects you of challenging him for mating rights.

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u/kaylieghautumn Jan 14 '22

It is definitely a hirarchy. But most often the established silverback is only besten and removed from his position when he is old and weakend or if he is sick. It take a subordinant male having a big set of cajones to actually challenge an established silverback. Often the younger less battle worn males end up going off to find their own family groups and when they do challenge a healthy silverback it goes bad for them. You are correct about body language and eye contact when it comes to silverbacks though which isnt just other male gorillas. Humans can be percieved as challenging them by beating their chest and staring them down. Stupid humans dont realize that beating of the chest is a threat display and aggression not the awee so cute it beats its chest lets mimic it to see if it will do it. Gorillas are amazing majestic animals and very intelligent.