Editing Gorilla (section)

== Distribution and habitat ==
[[File:Nshongi Gorilla Group-7, by Justin Norton.jpg|thumb|left |Young gorilla climbing]]
Gorillas have a patchy distribution. The range of the two species is separated by the [[Congo River]] and its [[tributary|tributarie]]s. The western gorilla lives in west central Africa, while the eastern gorilla lives in east central Africa. Between the species, and even within the species, gorillas live in a variety of habitats and elevations. Gorilla habitat ranges from [[Montane ecosystems|montane forest]] to swampland. Eastern gorillas inhabit montane and submontane forests between {{convert |650 |and |4000 |m |ft |abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="Sarmineto 2003">{{cite book |last=Sarmiento |first=E. E. |year=2003 |chapter=Distribution, taxonomy, genetics, ecology, and causal links of gorilla survival: the need to develop practical knowledge for gorilla conservation |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=A. B. |editor2-last=Goldsmith |editor2-first=M. L. |title=Gorilla Biology: A multidisciplinary perspective |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=432–471 | doi= 10.1017/CBO9780511542558.020 |isbn=978-0-521-79281-3 }}</ref>

Mountain gorillas live in montane forests at the higher end of the elevation range, while eastern lowland gorillas live in submontane forests at the lower end. In addition, eastern lowland gorillas live in montane bamboo forests, as well as lowland forests ranging from {{convert |600 |– |3308 |m |ft |abbr=on}} in elevation.<ref>{{cite conference |last=Ilambu |first=O. |year=2001 |chapter=Ecology of eastern lowland gorilla: Is there enough scientific knowledge to mitigate conservation threats associated with extreme disturbances in its distribution range? |title=The Apes: Challenges for the 21st century |location=Brookfield, IL, USA |publisher=Chicago Zoological Society |pages=307–312 |isbn =9780913934289 }}</ref> Western gorillas live in both lowland swamp forests and montane forests, at elevations ranging from sea level to {{convert |1600 |m |ft |abbr=on}}.<ref name="Sarmineto 2003"/> Western lowland gorillas live in swamp and lowland forests ranging up to {{convert |1600 |m |ft |abbr=on}}, and Cross River gorillas live in low-lying and submontane forests ranging from {{convert |150 |– |1600 |m |ft |abbr=on}}.