African Leopard vs. Western Silverback Gorilla

[Deinobrontornis]

African Leopard - Panthera pardus pardus


The African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is a leopard subspecies occurring across most of sub-Saharan Africa.
African leopards exhibit great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat color varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are larger, averaging 60 kg (130 lb) with 91 kg (200 lb) being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about 35 to 40 kg (77 to 88 lb) in average.
Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed 37.5 to 52.3 kg (83 to 115 lb) only, and females 24 to 33.5 kg (53 to 74 lb).
Leopards inhabiting the mountains of the Cape Provinces appear physically different from leopards further north. Their average weight may be only half that of the more northerly leopard.

Western Gorilla - Gorilla gorilla


The western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is a great ape and the most populous species of the genus Gorilla.
The western gorilla is slightly smaller, lighter, more slender and clearer dyed than its eastern cousin. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or greyish with a yellowish forehead. It also has an overhanging tip on its nose, which the eastern gorilla does not have. Males measure 160–170 cm (5.3-5.6 ft) and weigh 140–160 kg (308-352 lbs). Females measure 120–140 cm (4-4.6 ft) and weigh 60–80 kg (132-176 lbs). The western gorilla is the smaller species of the gorilla. The Cross River gorilla differs from the western lowland gorilla in both skull and tooth dimensions. It is also about 10–15 cm (4-6 in) taller and 20–35 kg (44-77 lbs) heavier, but still smaller and lighter than the mountain gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla, latter the largest subspecies of the gorilla and the largest living primate.

[Venomous Dragon]

Ive always found it hard to decide who would win such a fight.

[Deinobrontornis]

Oct 20, 2011 0:18:32 GMT -5 Venomous Dragon said:

Ive always found it hard to decide who would win such a fight.

Well in this case, unless it is the largest specimen of leopard to ever exist, I will never support a leopard in a head-to-head fight with a silverback gorilla. Here are my reasons:
1. Size: 350 lb. gorilla vs. 130 lb. leopard. The gorilla is nearly 3 times the size of the leopard. Gorilla 9.5/10
2. Bite force: a gorilla produces a bite force between 1,000-1,400 pounds per square inch. By comparision, a leopard only has a bite force of about 467 pound per square inch. Gorilla 8/10
3. Canines: Both are actually the same length, 2 inches. Although the leopard naturally has canines more specialized for killing. Gorilla 4/10
4. Speed: In this one the leopard actually has the advantage. A gorilla can run up to 25 mph, whereas a leopard can run up to 30 mph. Gorilla 3/10
5. Agility: Being a feline, the leopard might actually have an advantage here. Gorilla 4/10
6. Strength: at 350 lbs., a gorilla has about 6-8 times the strength of a human. A leopard only has about 5 time the strength of a human. Gorilla 6/10
7. Forelimbs: A gorilla's arm lacks claws, but it make up for it by having more than enough strength to injure a leopard with a single, well-placed blow. It's arms, also being able to grab and manipulate objects, can be used to defend itself from an attacking leopard. The leopards has sharp, 2 inch claws that could easily tear though the skin of a gorilla. A dew claw, acting as a thumb, provides grappling ability, although probably less than a gorilla. Gorilla 5/10
8. Skin and Fur: Both the leopard and the gorilla have light coats of fur, so fur does not provide much protection. The gorilla has skin much like a human in the fact that it shreds apart easily. The skin of a leopard isn't exceptionally tough, but it is thicker than a gorilla's skin. Gorilla 4/10
9. Intelligence: The gorilla, being a great ape, is naturally among the smartest animals on earth. They are able to recognize their reflection in mirrors and can have IQ levels of up to 90. The leopard is rather standard feline with rather standard intelligence. Gorilla 8/10

Overall: Gorilla wins 8.5/10 at day and 5.5/10 at night.

[Canid Cetus Aves]

I think the Gorilla would win this one.

[jumbo]

This is without a doubt. One of the greatest mismatches in these animal forums. Why it still continues is beyond me.

1. Gorilla is 2-3 times bigger
2. Gorilla is stronger
3. Gorilla is smarter
4. Gorilla is more dexterous- allowing him to bend, squeeze, pull, grip, and manipulate the leopard better. Dexterity also lets him exploit weakness such as eyes, genitals, and sensitive facial areas in ways the leopard can't do.
5. Gorilla has longer reach
6. Silverbacks are extraordinarily aggressive in their defense of the troop and will fight to the death to protect his family from predators or poachers.
7. Gorillas have stronger bite forces (enough to break bamboo which is more tensile than steel alloy)
8. Humans have killed leopards barehanded.

Gorilla could
1. Eye-gouge
2. Pry the leopard's jaws apart and cripple him.
3. Strangle the leopard, break his neck
4. Rip off the leopard's sensitive facial areas
5. Rip off his extremities
6. Grab and violently twist, wrench the leopard's limbs and break them useless

The leopard would almost always flee. The risk of injury is too high. A leopard's claws and teeth won't to much damage while a Gorilla just has to hit him once and kill him immediately. Or at least hurt him enough make him go away.

If a chimpanzee can overpower and shred a full grown man- think what a Gorilla could do with the same attitude? A gorilla can do everything a chimp can do with much more force. Gorilla wins 9.5/10.

[ansalon]

Without ambush, the gorilla wins for sure.

The closest matchup would be a black-backed western gorilla vs. the largest subspecies of leopard. The cat would have the advantage of agility and predatory instinct, but the ape would have the size and strength advantage. Overall, I'd say gorilla 7-8/10 times in that case.

If we are using a prime silverback, or the larger and more robust eastern gorilla, this truly is a total mismatch.

[rhino]

May 14, 2012 17:42:07 GMT -5 ansalon said:

Without ambush, the gorilla wins for sure.

The closest matchup would be a black-backed western gorilla vs. the largest subspecies of leopard. The cat would have the advantage of agility and predatory instinct, but the ape would have the size and strength advantage. Overall, I'd say gorilla 7-8/10 times in that case.

If we are using a prime silverback, or the larger and more robust eastern gorilla, this truly is a total mismatch.

I think by ambush the leopard stands a decent chance. But face to face, daylight, no ambush the gorilla would crush the feline.

I can see a tiger, lion, and sometimes a jaguar winning face to face.

But a leopard is too small IMO. I just don't see it overcoming the sheer enormous weight/strength advantage, reach, intelligence, greater bite force, flexibility, and protective troop aggression of a gorilla.

[Cr1TiKaL]

At parity, the leopard takes this. But parity is almost impossible. So I say gorilla 7/10, but it will end up with bad injuries.

[rhino]

Call me crazy but think the leopard's smaller size would give it an advantage bigger felines lack. The leopard is much smaller and faster than a jaguar/lion/tiger so it would have an easier time avoiding the gorilla's arms. So I think if the gorilla is never able to gain a firm hold on the cat (which can happen) the leopard could win.

Or if the leopard managed to get a surprise attack on the ape, then he stands a good chance because it does appear that based on accounts i've read, great apes appear very vulnerable to ambush attacks.

If the gorilla can get a strong grip on the leopard's neck or limbs, he can possibly strangle the cat, break its legs, or violently slam it against a rock or tree to knock it unconsious.

I don't always see the gorilla killing the cat but it can potentially wound the cat so badly the leopard wouldn't be able to fight back.

[James Reese]

People have been watching too many King Kong movies. A gorilla is not going to "2. Pry the leopard's jaws apart and cripple him.
3. Strangle the leopard, break his neck
4. Rip off the leopard's sensitive facial areas
5. Rip off his extremities". This is not a mismatch because there have been documented cases of leopards killing gorillas. There have also been documented cases of Gorillas killing leopards. I have also read about people finding dead leopards next to dead gorillas obviously meaning they killed each other in a fight to the death. Based on size and strength a silverback has the advantage but a big male leopard could kill a gorilla. Especially if it sneaks up and ambushes.