A silverback gorilla, which is an adult male gorilla characterized by a distinctive silver patch of hair on its back, typically stands between about 5 feet (1.5 meters) and up to nearly 6 feet (1.7 to 1.8 meters) tall when standing upright. Some sources note an average height range from approximately 4 feet 11 inches to 5 feet 11 inches (1.5 to 1.8 meters), with the tallest wild silverbacks recorded at around 6 feet (1.8 meters) or slightly more
. In summary:
- Common height range: 1.5 to 1.8 meters (about 5 to 5 feet 11 inches)
- Some individuals can reach nearly 6 feet tall or slightly above
- The tallest wild silverback recorded was about 1.95 meters (6 feet 5 inches), though this is exceptional
This height variation depends on the subspecies and individual gorilla, with eastern lowland gorillas tending to be taller than mountain gorillas
