Gigantopithecus
Gigantopithecus was the largest ever primate. It lived during the Pleistocene era (1.8 million to 10,000 years ago) when large mammals ruled the Earth.
| Gigantopithecus Temporal range: Pleistocene
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| Genus: | †Gigantopithecus
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Gigantopithecus is known to have lived in what is now southern China and Indochina (mainland Southeast Asia). He would have been three meters (10 feet) high if he stood on his hind legs, and probably weighed about 544 kg (1200 lbs).[1][2][3]
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 recorded was 183 centimeters (6 feet) tall and weighed 267 kg (589 lbs).
Gigantopithecus Media
Friedemann Schrenk holding the holotype Gigantopithecus blacki molar
Gigantopithecus is in the subfamily Ponginae along with orangutans (a male Bornean orangutan above).
Le gibbon (white background)
Dryopithecus fontani, from Late Miocene of Eurasia
Gorila de llanura occidental. Gorilla gorilla - Blanca Martí de Ahumada (white background)
PanTroglodytesSmit (white background)
Representación ideal del Gigantopithecus blackii
Simia satyrus - 1837 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - White Background
Reconstruction of Gigantopithecus with a speculative large build, gorilla-like posture, and orange hair
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References
- ↑ Christmas, Jane. Giant Ape lived alongside humans (2005-11-07)McMaster University. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ↑ Coichon, R.. The ape that was – Asian fossils reveal humanity's giant cousin. Natural History 100 (1991). p. 54–62. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ↑ Pettifor, Eric. Selected Readings in Physical Anthropology (2000)Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. p. 143–149. ISBN 0-7872-7155-1. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
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