Posted on 01/10/2024 5:05:40 PM PST by Red Badger
An artist's impression of Gigantopithecus blacki, the giant ape from southern China. Illustration: Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)
An ancient mega ape's massive size — clocking in at 10 feet tall and around 550 pounds — turned into an evolutionary disadvantage as it went extinct more than 200,000 years ago, according to new study published in Nature on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The new research helps scientists resolve a longstanding mystery surrounding the legendary Gigantopithecus blacki's disappearance from what's now China.
What's happening: Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate to roam Earth, went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago because it failed to adapt to a changing climate.
The region between the Yangtze River and the South China Sea had been ideal for populations of the massive ape for millions of years until its climate began to shift, becoming increasingly dry and divided by seasons, the researcher proposed.
Zoom in: The nearly year-round fruit that Gigantopithecus had relied on became scarcer in this altered environment, forcing them to shift their diets.
Signs of chronic stress on Gigantopithecus teeth from this period suggest the species turned to highly fibrous — but less nutritious — fallback foods when their preferred food was unabundant.
The dental wear also suggests their dietary diversity shrunk and that the species consumed less water.
As a result of their dietary behaviors, the apes likely became less mobile, meaning their foraging range was reduced, and populations of the apes began to decline.
Between the lines: The new study not only reveals the fate of one of humanity's distant ancestors but also shows that environmental triggers can readily kill off even a gargantuan species that had already existed for millions of years.
What they're saying: Yingqi Zhang, a co-lead author of the new research and a paleontologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in a statement that the disappearance of Gigantopithecus had been an "enigma" in paleontology.
"How could such a mighty creature go extinct at a time when other primates were adapting and surviving?" he said.
Cue “Beautiful Dreamer.”
Angus MacaSkull, who is the history’s tallest man weighed about 600lbs at 7’10. He was pretty substantial even for somebody so tall. Somebody at 6’0 would weigh about 240lbs.
end of this video has the largest primate if anyone is curious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PDzB6S9EN8
nice
Your math is correct, but your mechanics, perhaps deficient. As creatures grow larger in stature, weight increases disproportionately. Leg bones area would only grow as the square of height, so their legs would have to be thicker, just as an elephant’s legs are disproportionately thicker than a reindeer’s, even more so with a spider. I suppose they must have been quite spindly more like Kareem Abdul Jabbar than Refrigerator Perry.
That’s why I’m saying that the weight of this creature has to be wrong. He’s a spindle that can be easily broken.
I’m betting that he’s at least 700lbs.
...but it didn’t.
They are in the NFL and the WWE.................
One lives in Martha’s Vineyard...
Over specialization…
Did not go extinct. Moved to Chicago.
If this can someday be solved with, you know, actual evidence they will find that an epidemic killed off these apes, probably an STD.
That chinese food never was very satisfying.
Which is still smaller than the 800lbs gorilla in the room.
Which is still smaller than the 800lbs gorilla in the room.
Have they completely ruled out pee pee in the in his coke?
Of course they went extinct. One monkey is working while the others are sitting around on the porch or hanging out in the neighborhood. That is only sustainable for so long.
Human pandas.
This is made up bullshit. They only have a couple of teeth and no bones at all.
By measuring the size they can extrapolate the complete adult. They have been doing this for 200 years. It’s basic biology...................
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