Gigantopithecus

Gigantopithecus
Temporal range: Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Primates
Family:
Hominidae
Subfamily:
Ponginae
Genus:
†Gigantopithecus

Gigantopithecus was the largest primate that ever existed. It lived during the Pleistocene era (1.8 million to 10,000 years ago) when large mammals ruled the Earth. It is now extinct.

Gigantopithecus lived in what is now southern China and Indochina (mainland Southeast Asia).

Size

Because the fossils we have are very incomplete, it is difficult for scientists to estimate how large Gigantopithecus was. It may have been up to 7 feet 7 inches tall when standing on its hind legs. One estimate says it weighed roughly 440-660 pounds (200-300kg). Others say it weighed up to 1,110-1,300 (500-600kg).

In comparison, adult male gorillas stand only 5 to 6 feet tall and weigh about 136 to 195 kg (300 to 430 lbs). The largest gorilla ever recorded was 183 centimeters (6 feet) tall and weighed 267 kg (589 lbs). This is still smaller than a large gigantopithecus.

There is fossil evidence that Gigantopithecus displayed sexual dimorphism (males were much bigger than females).

Diet

Scientists think Gigantopithecus was a herbivore that ate fruits, leaves, and other forest plants. It also ate tubers.

It had a powerful jaw that could chew through hard foods. Its teeth could also withstand abrasive things like dirt from plants (like bamboo) it picked up off the ground to eat. It probably did not eat savanna grasses.

References

  1. ↑ Zhang, Yingqi; Westaway, Kira E.; Haberle, Simon; Lubeek, Juliën K.; Bailey, Marian; Ciochon, Russell; Morley, Mike W.; Roberts, Patrick; Zhao, Jian-xin; Duval, Mathieu; Dosseto, Anthony; Pan, Yue; Rule, Sue; Liao, Wei; Gully, Grant A.; Lucas, Mary; Mo, Jinyou; Yang, Liyun; Cai, Yanjun; Wang, Wei; Joannes-Boyau, Renaud (2024). "The demise of the giant ape Gigantopithecus blacki". Nature. 625 (7995): 535–539. Bibcode:2024Natur.625..535Z. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06900-0. PMC 10794149. PMID 38200315.
  2. ↑ Gayford, Joel H.; Engelman, Russell K.; Sternes, Phillip C.; Itano, Wayne M.; Bazzi, Mohamad; Collareta, Alberto; Salas-Gismondi, Rodolfo; Shimada, Kenshu (2024). "Cautionary tales on the use of proxies to estimate body size and form of extinct animals". Ecology and Evolution. 14 (9) e70218. Bibcode:2024EcoEv..1470218G. doi:10.1002/ece3.70218. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC 11368419. PMID 39224151.
  3. 1 2 Zhang, Y.; Harrison, T. (2017). "Gigantopithecus blacki: a giant ape from the Pleistocene of Asia revisited". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 162 (S63): 153–177. Bibcode:2017AJPA..162S.153Z. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23150. PMID 28105715.
  4. ↑ Christmas, Jane (2005-11-07). "Giant Ape lived alongside humans". McMaster University. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  5. ↑ Coichon, R. (1991). "The ape that was – Asian fossils reveal humanity's giant cousin". Natural History. 100: 54–62. ISSN 0028-0712. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  6. ↑ Pettifor, Eric (2000) [1995]. "From the Teeth of the Dragon: Gigantopithecus Blacki". Selected Readings in Physical Anthropology. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. pp. 143–149. ISBN 0-7872-7155-1. Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  7. ↑ Bocherens, H.; Schrenk, F.; Chaimanee, Y.; Kullmer, O.; Mörike, D.; Pushkina, D.; Jaeger, J.-J. (2017). "Flexibility of diet and habitat in Pleistocene South Asian mammals: Implications for the fate of the giant fossil ape Gigantopithecus". Quaternary International. 434: 148–155. Bibcode:2017QuInt.434..148B. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.059.
  8. ↑ Qu, Y.; Jin, C.; Zhang, Y.; et al. (2014). "Preservation assessments and carbon and oxygen isotopes analysis of tooth enamel of Gigantopithecus blacki and contemporary animals from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, South China during the Early Pleistocene". Quaternary International. 354: 52–58. Bibcode:2014QuInt.354...52Q. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.10.053.
  9. ↑ Kono, R. T.; Zhang, Y.; Jin, C.; Takai, M.; Suwa, G. (2014). "A 3-dimensional assessment of molar enamel thickness and distribution pattern in Gigantopithecus blacki". Quaternary International. 354: 46–51. Bibcode:2014QuInt.354...46K. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.02.012.
  10. ↑ Bocherens, H.; Schrenk, F.; Chaimanee, Y.; Kullmer, O.; Mörike, D.; Pushkina, D.; Jaeger, J.-J. (2017). "Flexibility of diet and habitat in Pleistocene South Asian mammals: Implications for the fate of the giant fossil ape Gigantopithecus". Quaternary International. 434: 148–155. Bibcode:2017QuInt.434..148B. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.059.


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