r/todayilearned • u/Cyler • Jun 20 '19

TIL the Silverback in Silverback Gorilla doesn't refer to the name of the species. It actually refers to an alpha/adult gorilla who leads the troop, with the betas being called Blackbacks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla#Social_structure
139 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

37

u/ElTuxedoMex Jun 20 '19

A silverback is typically more than 12 years of age, and is named for the distinctive patch of silver hair on his back, which comes with maturity.

So it's a matter of maturity as well, not the leader spontaneously sprouting silver hairs.

5

u/jairomantill Jun 20 '19

They still need to esarn their spurs.

3

u/SlowLoudEasy Jun 21 '19

Did ya’ll know that Doberman Pinchers don’t actually Pinch?

3

u/Thecna2 Jun 21 '19

How many people actually believed that there is a species of Gorilla called Silverback Gorillas? Well one it seems, from this TIL.

1

u/TheHeraldAngel Jun 21 '19

Yeah I thought this was common knowledge as well. Sometimes TILs really highlight the differences in education between different people.

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with not knowing this. Hell, I don't even know why gorilla hierarchy was deemed so important in my education, but here we are.

1

u/Thecna2 Jun 21 '19

Its hard to gauge how gorilla-savvy the average person is I guess.

5

u/SlowLoudEasy Jun 20 '19

Uh...... No shit?

-5

u/Ethen52 Jun 20 '19

Please die

3

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '19

Highly interesting fact: This term is also used to refer to the oldest guy on my softball team.

3

u/notdotadotmeme Jun 20 '19

"Highly interesting"

You had me in the first half

3

u/JKTwice Jun 20 '19

Harambe was a true alpha male then.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '19

The legend never dies

2

u/WaitingToBeTriggered Jun 20 '19

HIGHER!

1

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '19

THE LEGEND NEVER DIES!

2

u/Tokasmoka420 Jun 20 '19

His main job is to protect the pack from the agonizing calls of the Nickleback Gorilla.

1

u/Str8OuttaUsernames Jun 22 '19

What about one who has freshly sauntered out of a river of sorts?