Final answer:
The three terrestrial and large species of gorillas are the Western Lowland Gorilla, Eastern Lowland Gorilla, and Mountain Gorilla. They are the biggest of the great apes and live in family groups in the forests of Central Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three species of gorillas known for being mostly terrestrial and large in size are:
- Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) - This subspecies of the western gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies, typically found in lowland tropical rainforests.
- Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) - Also known as Grauer's gorilla, this species is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies and is found in the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) - The mountain gorilla is one of two subspecies of the eastern gorilla and is found in the Virunga Volcanic Mountains of Central Africa, and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. They are known for their robust built and adapted to live in colder mountain forests.
All gorilla species share 97% of their DNA with chimpanzees and humans, and they live mostly on the ground, as their large size makes tree dwelling difficult. Gorillas are the largest of the great apes, with males weighing up to 309-397 lbs. They live in family groups, have a mostly herbivorous diet consisting predominantly of foliage, and are highly endangered due to factors such as poaching, habitat loss, and disease.