Silverback Gorillas vs Grizzly Bears: Who Would Win in a Fight?
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Can you picture a fight between a SIlverback gorilla vs a Grizzly Bear? Before we begin, let’s clarify which animals we are actually talking about. Though many people know them or refer to them as “Silverback Gorillas,” the term “Silverback” is actually exclusive to the adult males of the species properly known as the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). They are called this due to the silvery sheen which the hair of their backs takes on once they reach adulthood. Because of this, from here on, it may be assumed that all references to “Silverback Gorillas” are regarding the adult males of each species.
If there were ever to be a fight between a Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and a Silverback Gorilla, there would be a clear winner, but let’s get back to that in a moment. While these animals may share a few similarities, the silverback gorilla and the grizzly bear are very different animals, who live in many different habitats, eat quite different diets, and grow to vastly different sizes from one another.
Although a silverback gorilla is very fast, quite strong, and has a longer arm span, there is no way a silverback could defeat the much larger and faster grizzly bear in a fair fight.
Comparing Silverback Gorillas and Grizzly Bears
In general, Silverbacks are considered peaceful creatures. They do not attack humans except in very rare circumstances. Grizzlies, on the other hand, can be quite aggressive. They mostly avoid humans when they can, but sometimes they will stumble into a campsite, or an errant hiker will get between a mother and her cubs. In such cases, these bears are a grave danger to humans, and our larger primate cousins would not fair much better.
The grizzly’s claws alone, which can be as long as four inches, would give it a significant advantage in an altercation with a silverback, but let’s really compare the grizzly bear and the silverback gorilla to see just how big an advantage the grizzly has over the silverback.
These animals have a few things in common, such as their strength and their ability to walk either upright or on all fours, but really, that is where the similarities end. They are both classified as omnivores, but the silverback does not eat any animals aside from insects, while the grizzly eats a lot of fish and other small animals.
Some of the starkest differences between these two animals include:
| Silverback Gorillas | Grizzly Bears | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6 ft (hind feet), 485 lbs | 8 ft (hind feet), 800 lbs |
| Habitat | Mountain forest approximately 10,000 ft elevation | woodlands, forests, alpine meadows, prairies |
| Lifespan | >40 yrs old | 20-25 yrs old |
| Species | Gorilla beringei beringei | Ursus arctos |
| Speed | 20 mph | 35 mph |
| Temperament | Mostly docile | Moderately aggressive |
| Feet | 2 hands, 2 feet, 4 opposable thumbs | 4 feet, 20 toes, 20 claws |
The 5 Key Differences Between Silverback Gorillas vs Grizzly Bears
1. Silverback Gorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Head and face
A Grizzly Bear has a large round head with an almost canine nose. Silverback gorillas have flatter noses, with prints as unique as human fingerprints, and pointier heads.
2.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Ears
Silverback Gorilla ears are hard to distinguish from human ears and have a similar head placement. Grizzly Bears have small, round, furry ears, high on their heads.
3.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Hair
Grizzly Bears have thick dark brown fur. Silverback Gorillas are covered in soft, springy hair, except on their palms, chest, faces, and the bottoms of their feet.
4.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Size (Height & Weight)
On average, Silverback Gorillas are about two feet shorter than Grizzly Bears when they both stand on their hind feet. Silverback Gorillas can reach up to nearly 500lbs, which is about half the weight of the largest Grizzly Bears.
5.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Claws
Grizzly Bears have 20 claws, several inches in length, one on each toe of their four feet. Silverback Gorillas have nails on their fingers and toes like humans.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What’s the difference between a Silverback Gorilla vs Grizzly Bear?
The scientific name for the Silverback Gorilla is the Gorilla beringei beringei, and the Grizzly Bear is the Ursus arctos horribilis. Gorillas are primates and grizzlies are Carnivora. Grizzlies are larger and more dangerous. Gorillas are omnivores with a mostly plant-based diet. Grizzlies are also omnivores, but eat a lot of meat as well as plants.
Which are more dangerous, Silverback Gorillas or Grizzly Bears?
Grizzly Bears are much more aggressive, and therefore more dangerous, though usually, they avoid humans unless provoked or threatened. Silverbacks are mostly quite docile and any human attacks are thankfully very rare.
Are Silverback Gorillas or Grizzly Bears more aggressive?
Silverback Gorillas are much less aggressive and are generally considered peaceful unless they are defending their territory or their young. Grizzlies don’t attack humans often, but they are more likely to do so than a Silverback, whenever there is a surprise encounter.
Do Grizzly Bears and Silverback Gorillas have different feet?
Absolutely they do have different feet. While both can walk on their hind feet or on all fours, gorillas have two hands and two feet which are closely related to elongated human hands, including the opposable thumbs, giving them a total of four opposable thumbs, but only two feet. Grizzlies have five-toed paws on all four feet and all lack the dexterity of gorilla “hands” but have a claw at the end of each toe.
Are Grizzly Bears the most fearsome bear species?
Grizzly bears are not the largest bear species. That title goes to polar bears. Yet, in altercations between grizzly bears vs. polar bears, it’s the grizzly that’s been left standing while polar bears flee. While polar bears are larger, grizzlies more aggressively will fight for food and have sharper claws that can swipe and do large amounts of damage.
More from A-Z Animals
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Can you picture a fight between a SIlverback gorilla vs a Grizzly Bear? Before we begin, let’s clarify which animals we are actually talking about. Though many people know them or refer to them as “Silverback Gorillas,” the term “Silverback” is actually exclusive to the adult males of the species properly known as the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). They are called this due to the silvery sheen which the hair of their backs takes on once they reach adulthood. Because of this, from here on, it may be assumed that all references to “Silverback Gorillas” are regarding the adult males of each species.
If there were ever to be a fight between a Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and a Silverback Gorilla, there would be a clear winner, but let’s get back to that in a moment. While these animals may share a few similarities, the silverback gorilla and the grizzly bear are very different animals, who live in many different habitats, eat quite different diets, and grow to vastly different sizes from one another.
Although a silverback gorilla is very fast, quite strong, and has a longer arm span, there is no way a silverback could defeat the much larger and faster grizzly bear in a fair fight.
Comparing Silverback Gorillas and Grizzly Bears
In general, Silverbacks are considered peaceful creatures. They do not attack humans except in very rare circumstances. Grizzlies, on the other hand, can be quite aggressive. They mostly avoid humans when they can, but sometimes they will stumble into a campsite, or an errant hiker will get between a mother and her cubs. In such cases, these bears are a grave danger to humans, and our larger primate cousins would not fair much better.
The grizzly’s claws alone, which can be as long as four inches, would give it a significant advantage in an altercation with a silverback, but let’s really compare the grizzly bear and the silverback gorilla to see just how big an advantage the grizzly has over the silverback.
These animals have a few things in common, such as their strength and their ability to walk either upright or on all fours, but really, that is where the similarities end. They are both classified as omnivores, but the silverback does not eat any animals aside from insects, while the grizzly eats a lot of fish and other small animals.
Some of the starkest differences between these two animals include:
| Silverback Gorillas | Grizzly Bears | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6 ft (hind feet), 485 lbs | 8 ft (hind feet), 800 lbs |
| Habitat | Mountain forest approximately 10,000 ft elevation | woodlands, forests, alpine meadows, prairies |
| Lifespan | >40 yrs old | 20-25 yrs old |
| Species | Gorilla beringei beringei | Ursus arctos |
| Speed | 20 mph | 35 mph |
| Temperament | Mostly docile | Moderately aggressive |
| Feet | 2 hands, 2 feet, 4 opposable thumbs | 4 feet, 20 toes, 20 claws |
The 5 Key Differences Between Silverback Gorillas vs Grizzly Bears
1. Silverback Gorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Head and face
A Grizzly Bear has a large round head with an almost canine nose. Silverback gorillas have flatter noses, with prints as unique as human fingerprints, and pointier heads.
2.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Ears
Silverback Gorilla ears are hard to distinguish from human ears and have a similar head placement. Grizzly Bears have small, round, furry ears, high on their heads.
3.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Hair
Grizzly Bears have thick dark brown fur. Silverback Gorillas are covered in soft, springy hair, except on their palms, chest, faces, and the bottoms of their feet.
4.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Size (Height & Weight)
On average, Silverback Gorillas are about two feet shorter than Grizzly Bears when they both stand on their hind feet. Silverback Gorillas can reach up to nearly 500lbs, which is about half the weight of the largest Grizzly Bears.
5.SilverbackGorilla vs Grizzly Bear: Claws
Grizzly Bears have 20 claws, several inches in length, one on each toe of their four feet. Silverback Gorillas have nails on their fingers and toes like humans.
Next up: