0 an older male gorilla (= a large ape) that has white or silver hair on its back and is the dominant (= controlling) member of its group: --
She watched how silverback male gorillas cared for their families and paternally intervened to resolve conflicts, thereby setting the tone for community behavior.
A dominant male silverback heads the group, with younger males usually leaving the group when they reach maturity.
The bond a silverback has with his females forms the core of gorilla social life.
The leader (the silverback) organizes group activities, like eating, nesting, and traveling in their home range.
The silverback has a largely supportive relationship with the infants in his troop and shields them from aggression within the group.
He then embraced his role as silverback and leader of a troop.
At the beginning of the study, there were 14 group members: two silverbacks (mature males), six females, four juveniles and two infants.
However, while gorilla troops usually disband after the silverback dies, female eastern lowlands gorillas and their offspring have been recorded staying together until a new silverback transfers into the group.
