Gigantopithecus Size report

Gigantopithecus is an extinct ancient creature that lived in China, India, and Vietnam about 1 million to 300,000 years ago and shared the same timeline and geographic location with several hominids. The Gigantopithecus is a ground-dwelling ape similar to the orangutan and is probably the largest ape in the world.

According to the archaeological research of the unearthed fossils, the morphological characteristics of the Gigantopithecus are between apes and humans. The giant apes have strong canine teeth and huge white teeth. The size of the teeth is about 5 times larger than that of modern humans, so they can easily bite a thick bamboo.

According to a 2019 study that analyzed the D.N.A. of a 1.9-million-year-old fossil tooth, scientists believe that the Gigantopithecus split from the orangutan family about 10-12 million years ago and evolved independently, then formed as a separate species 2 million years ago. This post will introduce more details about these giant apes.

Gigantopithecus General Descriptions

Gigantopithecus is a genus of large extinct apes which lived during the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) in southern China. The first specimens were found by the German-Dutch paleontologist G.H.R. von Koenigswald in Chinese drugstores between 1935 and 1939, known as "dragon's teeth." These large teeth are similar to human teeth, which led some paleo morphologists to speculate that humans might have had "giant" ancestors. Later discoveries of complete mandibles demonstrated that they were from extinct apes. More similar fossils were discovered in southern China, northern Vietnam, and Thailand.

It is difficult to preserve the genetic material information in fossils more than 10,000 years old in subtropical regions. However, the enamel of the giant apes is thick and hard, forming a closed system, and most fossils are effectively preserved in caves with relatively stable temperature and humidity, allowing researchers to extract genetic material from them successfully. A breakthrough in archaeological research has been achieved.

Morphological Characteristics

The brave Gigantopithecus can stand with its hind legs, and they may be able to walk upright to a certain extent. According to some studies, the great apes have huge and sturdy skulls, huge and strong trunks, and longer and sturdier limbs than modern humans. Gigantopithecus had strong canines and huge molars with a thick enamel layer, high crowns, and short cusps. If such animals stand in front of us, they are like "King Kong" in the movie, so paleontologists call them "Ancient King Kong."

Average Size

Gigantopithecus is an important species of primates, the largest of all living and fossil primates discovered. They were probably the largest apes globally, with an estimated average weight of more than half a ton. According to the unearthed fossil records, the giant ape can stand up to 3m high; they are generally more than two meters tall, making them the largest known primate.

Living Habits

The Gigantopithecus has strong canine teeth and huge white teeth. Still, according to the chemical analysis of its teeth, it can be inferred that they are pure vegetarians, and their favorite food is bamboo. They likely lived in forested habitats to get enough food. These behemoths lived with early humans for about a million years, but it is clear that they were gentle creatures and capable of coexisting in harmony with early humans.

Final Words

The knowledge of the great ape comes from the fossilized teeth of the great ape discovered by archaeologists. So far, there are eight fossil sites of the great ape found in the world. There are six places in China, five of which are located in Guangxi Province. It can be said that Guangxi is the hometown of giant apes. There is no definite conclusion about the reasons for the extinction of the giant apes. According to the analysis of relevant experts, the giant ape has a large food intake, a long breeding period, and poor adaptability to environmental changes. The narrow diet structure often threatens their lives, and with the emergence of the Ice Age, the living environment of the great apes has been greatly damaged.