| Name | Gigantopithecus | Diet | Herbivorous |
| Name Meaning | “Giant Ape” | Height | 2.7–3 meters (9–10 feet) |
| Pronunciation | Ji-gan-to-pi-the-kus | Length | 2 meters (6.56 feet) |
| Era | Cenozoic – Quaternary Period | Weight | 200–300 kg (441–661 lbs) |
| Classification | Primates, Haplorhini, Simiiformes | Location | China (Asia) |
Gigantopithecus Pictures
The Gigantopithecus
Commonly referred to as the greatest of the great apes, Gigantopithecus was the largest ape to have ever lived.
This extinct genus of apes lived in Southern China during the Pleistocene Epoch, between two million to 350,000 years ago.
Gigantopithecus is considered a close relative of present-day orangutans due to the structure of its lower jaw.
So far, no complete or even near-complete specimen of this ape has been found.
It is mainly known from numerous tooth and jaw fossils found across 16 different fossil sites across China.
The giant ape was identified for the first time in 1935 when anthropologist Ralph von Koenigswald came across its massive molars being sold as dragon teeth in a Chinese drug store.
So far, a lot is known about the diet and possible lifestyle of this ape, but very little about its overall appearance due to limited fossil evidence.
In this article, we’ll discuss some known facts about the Gigantopithecus and how it lived.
Physical Characteristics
Gigantopithecus was an incredibly large primate.
Based on available evidence, it is considered the largest ape to have ever existed.
Estimates suggest that the Gigantopithecus stood at a height of about nine to ten feet (2.7 to 3 meters) tall when in an upright posture.
It weighed about 200 to 300 kilograms (441–661 pounds) on average.
These proportions make Gigantopithecus considerably larger than any living ape species today.
Even for the lower limits of its weight, this ape was up to 40% heavier than a male gorilla.
A second species, about the same size as a modern gorilla known as G. giganteus, has been suggested.
However, experts think this species was most likely a related but different prehistoric ape.
Based on the few fossil remains available, scientists have inferred that Gigantopithecus had a robust and muscular build.
It likely had a heavyset body with a deep chest.
This would have been necessary to support its immense weight.
The limb proportions of the Gigantopithecus were likely similar to that of present-day apes, characterized by long arms and relatively short legs.
Like its living relatives, Gigantopithecus probably exhibited sexual dimorphism, with male members of the genus being considerably larger than females.
Habitat and Distribution
Gigantopithecus inhabited parts of Asia during the Pleistocene Epoch.
Fossil remains of the giant ape have been mainly found in China, but there have been a few reported fossil discoveries in India, Vietnam, and Indonesia as well.
Due to limited fossil evidence, the exact geographic range of Gigantopithecus is not precisely known.
But it may have lived in forested regions across Southeast Asia.
The nature of the forest home of this ape varied from subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests to tropical rainforests.
Gigantopithecus lived in dense, humid forests with closed-canopy that included a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees.
The climate during the Pleistocene varied considerably.
The region where this ape lived likely experienced several ice ages interspersed by warmer interglacial periods.
In general, the climate was colder compared to present-day conditions, and large parts of Asia experienced significant glaciation.
Towards the end of the Gigantopithecus’ existence, the forest habitats where it lived started to disappear and were soon replaced by a sprawling savanna.
Experts believe this change in the nature of their habitat may have contributed to the disappearance of the genus.
Behavior and Diet
The Gigantopithecus is often depicted in reconstructions as a giant gorilla-like ape.
This is mainly because gorillas are the largest apes around today.
However, the exact posture and locomotion of this ape is highly speculative.
Although commonly depicted as an upright ape that walked with a bipedal posture, experts think the Gigantopithecus’ posture in real life would have been closer to that of the other great apps.
This means it probably supported its body on all four limbs with a hunched quadrupedal posture most of the time.
However, it was capable of bipedal locomotion occasionally, especially during periods of display or when moving short distances.
The social behavior of Gigantopithecus is also uncertain due to the lack of direct evidence.
They likely had a social structure similar to other large apes ranging from solitary individuals to small family groups and larger communities.
Gigantopithecus may have lived in small family groups or loose associations like this as well.
One aspect of the Gigantopithecus’ life that is well-known is their diet.
This has been easier to infer due to the abundance of jaw and tooth fossils of this ape.
The available evidence suggests that the Gigantopithecus had a strict herbivorous diet.
Their dentition was quite similar to the orangutans, with a deep and robust lower jaw that suggests an adaptation for chewing on tough fibrous plants.
The dentition included two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars in each jaw.
The canine teeth had a stout appearance, which suggests they likely functioned as premolars or molars.
The actual cheekbones were low crowned with thick enamel, but they still show signs of wear, consistent with a browsing herbivorous diet.
Gigantopithecus probably fed on bamboo, a common plant in the region where fossils of this ape have been found.
This ape also ate fruits when it was available.
One piece of evidence for this is the presence of cavities on several Gigantopithecus teeth, which may have been caused by the acid from fruits.
To obtain food, Gigantopithecus likely relied on its size and strength to access vegetation.
The powerful jaws and teeth of this giant ape were strong enough to chew through tough vegetation and fruits.
Being such a large-bodied ape would have made reaching high branches for fruits or leaves possible.
It may have used its strength to bend smaller trees or shrubs to access food as well.
Life Cycle
We can infer the possible life cycle of the Gigantopithecus based on a comparison with modern apes.
This giant ape reproduced sexually, with the dominant male mating with females in its territory.
Given their size, it is likely that Gigantopithecus had a relatively slow reproductive rate.
Female apes typically have long interbirth intervals, sometimes lasting for several years.
This is because they invest significant time and energy into raising their offspring.
It is possible that Gigantopithecus followed a similar reproductive pattern, with females giving birth to single offspring after a long gestation period.
After birth, Gigantopithecus juveniles likely underwent a period of prolonged growth and development.
During the early juvenile years (usually extended for gorillas and orangutans), the young apes relied entirely on their mothers for care.
Gigantopithecus may have had a similar growth pattern, with offspring staying with their mothers for an extended period until they developed independence and acquired skills needed to survive on their own.
Some modern apes can live up to 40 to 50 years in the wild and even longer in captivity.
However, it is difficult to tell how long the Gigantopithecus lived on average and when they attained sexual maturity.
Evolution and History
Gigantopithecus belongs to the family Hominidae, which includes humans and other great apes.
Due to a lack of DNA evidence, the exact relationship between the Gigantopithecus has been difficult to reconstruct.
But by comparing the similarities in their dental and cranial structure, it is generally believed that they’re closely related to orangutans.
Note that this does not mean the Gigantopithecus was the direct ancestor of modern orangutans or any other living ape species.
They most likely evolved separately from the same ancestors millions of years ago.
The ancestors of the Asian hominids (also known as Pongonids) evolved during the Miocene Epoch.
They diverged from the other great apes about 19.3 to 15.7 million years ago.
Gigantopithecus underwent significant morphological changes as it evolved, mainly characterized by an overall increase in size.
They also possessed enormous jaws and massive molars with thick enamel, indicating adaptations for a diet of tough vegetation.
Growing to such a large size was a response to abundant food sources in the Gigantopithecus forested habitat.
Being massive also means the Gigantopithecus was less vulnerable to predators and could cover more territory in search of food.
But due to its size, Gigantopithecus presumably needed a large amount of food to survive.
The replacement of their forested home with a savanna landscape eventually led to their decline and extinction about 300,000 years ago.
Interactions With Other Species
The Gigantopithecus lived alongside other large megaherbivores during the Pleistocene.
They are relatives of modern-day elephants such as the Sinomastodon.
Other large mammals found in the region where this giant ape lived include the giant pig Hippopotamodon, Dorcabune (also known as mouse-deer), the giant panda Ailuropoda and a prehistoric tapir (Tapirus sinensis).
These animals, collectively referred to as the Gigantopithecus fauna, were herbivores and may have competed for similar food sources as the Gigantopithecus.
Given its size, this giant ape was probably safe from possible predators in its habitat.
While direct evidence of interactions with predators is scarce, predators like the saber-toothed cat Megantereon were probably not big enough to take on adult Gigantopithecus.
Juveniles and weaker individuals may have faced potential predation from carnivores like this.
There’s also a chance Gigantopithecus and other large mammals that lived in Southern Asia encountered humans at some point.
Human activity has been recorded in the region as far back as 800,000 years ago.
However, early humans didn’t become prevalent in Asia until 100,000 years ago, well after the Gigantopithecus’ extinction.
Cultural Significance
The greatest of all great apes is one of the most fascinating creatures from Earth’s prehistoric past.
Ironically, this giant ape has been elusive due to the lack of postcranial fossils that may provide additional information about what it looked like and how it lived.
Long before this Gigantopithecus was first identified, tooth fossils of this great ape were already being circulated in Chinese apothecary shops, where it was marketed as dragon teeth along with other traditional medicines and trinkets.
Since its discovery and subsequent description, at least four confirmed mandibles and up to 2,000 teeth of this ape have been identified.
Although fragmentary, these fossils have helped to determine the likely diet of this great ape.
Determining the relationship between Gigantopithecus and other great apes has also been difficult due to the absence of DNA evidence.
However, researchers have used techniques from an emerging field of proteomics to retrieve molecular information from Gigantopithecus bones.
This technique has helped them identify orangutans as the closest living relatives of the Gigantopithecus.
Gigantopithecus is not very popular in pop culture. However, there have been attempts to link this giant ape to the legendary Yeti or Bigfoot, a large and hairy mythical creature believed to inhabit the forests of North America.
Since Gigantopithecus likely went extinct about 300,000 years ago and lived on a completely different continent, the famous Sasquatch, if it did exist, was probably not the Gigantopithecus.
Conclusion
Gigantopithecus was a genus of large apes that lived during the Pleistocene Epoch.
It lived in the forested areas of Southern China until about 300,000 years ago, when changing climate led to the disappearance of its habitat.
Gigantopithecus is considered a close relative of the orangutans based on similarities between their dentition.
This giant ape is only known from tooth and jaw bones
This has made it difficult to reconstruct the actual appearance of this ape and has left numerous questions about many of its habits.
The discovery of a more complete postcranial skeleton may help answer some of the lingering questions about one of the most remarkable prehistoric animals of the Pleistocene epoch.
FAQs
Was Gigantopithecus a human ancestor?
No, Gigantopithecus was a great ape closely related to the orangutan.
Although it shares the same hominid ancestors with humans, the branch that led to the Gigantopithecus and other ponginids branched off between 10 and 12 million years ago.
What does the name “Gigantopithecus” mean?
The name “Gigantopithecus” is derived from Greek words. “Giganto” means “giant,” and “pithecus” means “ape.” So, Gigantopithecus translates to “giant ape.”
Sources:
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/Gigantopithecus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantopithecus
- https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030742-800-gigantopithecus-the-story-of-the-greatest-of-the-great-apes/
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/greatest-ape-molar-proteins-shed-light-largest-primate-ever-exist-180973554/
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