Gigantopithecus
 | It has been suggested that Gigantopithecus giganteus be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2007. |
| It has been suggested that Gigantopithecus blacki be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2007. |
| Gigantopithecus Temporal range: Pleistocene
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| File:Gigantopithecus.jpg | |
| A reconstructed Gigantopithecus display at the Museum of Man, San Diego, California | |
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| Genus: | Gigantopithecus von Koenigswald, 1935
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Gigantopithecus blacki | |
Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus of ape that existed from roughly one million years to as recently as 300 thousand years ago,[1] in what is now China, India, and Vietnam, placing Gigantopithecus in the same time frame and geographical location as several hominid species.[2] The fossil record suggests that the Gigantopithecus blacki species were the largest apes that ever lived, standing up to 10 feet (3.0 m) and weighing up to 1,200 pounds (540 kg).[1][3][4]
Fossil remains
The first Gigantopithecus remains described by an anthropologist were found in 1935 by Ralph von Koenigswald in an apothecary shop, fossilized teeth and bones are often ground into powder and used in some branches of Traditional Chinese medicine.[5] Von Koenigswald named the theorized species Gigantopithecus.[6]
Relatively few fossils of Gigantopithecus have been recovered. Aside from the molars recovered in Chinese traditional medicine shops, Liucheng Cave in Liuzhou-China has produced numerous gigantopithecus blacki teeth as well as several jawbones.[3] Other sites yielding significant finds were in Vietnam and India.[2][4] These finds suggest the range of Gigantopithecus was southeast Asia.
Morphology
Based on the fossil evidence, it is believed that adult male Gigantopithecus blacki stood about 10 ft (3.0 m) tall and weighed as much as 1,200 lb (540 kg),[1][3][4] making the species two to three times heavier than modern gorillas and nearly five times heavier than the orangutan, its closest living relative. The species was highly sexually dimorphic, with adult females roughly half the weight of males.[4] Due to wide interspecies differences in the relationship between tooth and body size, some argue that it is more likely that gigantopithecus was much smaller, at roughly 6 ft (1.8 m).[6]
Evidence of a separate species, Gigantopithecus giganteus, has been found in northern India and China. In the Guangxi region of China, teeth of this species were discovered in limestone formations in Daxin and Wuming, north of Nanning. Despite the name, it is believed that giganteus was approximately half the size of blacki.[3][4]
Gigantopithecus was probably a quadruped and a herbivore, existing on a diet primarily of bamboo, possibly supplemented with seasonal fruits.[1][2][4] However, recent theory suggests it was a generalist in its eating habits.[citation needed] Although it is not known why Gigantopithecus died out, researchers believe that climate change and resource competition with better adapted species were the main culprits.
Gigantopithecines in cryptozoology
Some cryptozoologists believe Gigantopithecines are the legendary primates known in various geographic locations as Bigfoot, Yowie, Yeren, Skunk Ape or Yeti.[7][8] These claims are not generally considered credible by the scientific community.[9]
In popular culture
- A mockumentary about Skull Island on the DVD for the 2005 remake of the film King Kong suggests that Kong's species evolved from Gigantopithecus.
- Gigantopithecus also features in the video games Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals and Wildlife Park 2: Crazy Zoo.
- The History Channel program, Monster Quest discussed Gigantopithecus in the episode "Giganto: The Real King Kong".
References
- ^ a b c d Christmas, Jane (2005-11-07). "Giant Ape lived alongside humans". McMaster University. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ a b c Ciochon, R. (1996). "Dated Co-Occurrence of Homo erectus and Gigantopithecus from Tham Khuyen Cave, Vietnam" (PDF). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 93 (7): 3016–3020. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Ciochon, Russell L. "The Ape that Was - Asian fossils reveal humanity's giant cousin". University of Iowa. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ a b c d e f Pettifor, Eric (2000) [1995]. Selected Readings in Physical Anthropology. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. pp. pp 143-149. ISBN 0787271551. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|Chapter=ignored (|chapter=suggested) (help) - ^ "How Gigantopithecus was discovered". The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ a b Relethford, J. (2003). The Human Species: An Introduction to Biological Anthropology. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0767430227.
- ^ Carey, Bjorn (7 November 2007). "Gigantic Apes Coexisted with Early Humans, Study Finds". LiveScience. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ "The Bigfoot-Giganto Theory". Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ Radford, Benjamin (28 July 2005). "Voice of Reason: The Reality of Bigfoot". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
External links
