Gigantopithecus blacki

Taxobox | name = "Gigantopithecus blacki"
fossil_range = Pleistocene (~100 TYA)


status= EX
status_system=iucn3.1
image_width = 225px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Primates
familia = Hominidae
subfamilia = Ponginae
genus = †"Gigantopithecus"
species = †"G. blacki"
binomial = †"Gigantopithecus blacki"
binomial_authority = Koenigswald, 1935

"Gigantopithecus blacki" (Greek and Latin for "Black's Giant Ape") is an extinct species of ape.

Characteristics

The only known fossils of "G. blacki" are a few teeth and mandibles found in cave sites in Southeast Asia. As the name suggests, these are appreciably larger than those of living gorillas, but the exact size and structure of the rest of the body can only be estimated in the absence of additional findings. Recent research using high-precision absolute-dating methods has shown that after existing for about a million years, "G. blacki" died out 100,000 years ago. This means that it coexisted with (anatomically) modern humans ("Homo sapiens") for a few dozen thousands of years, and with the most immediate ancestors of "H. sapiens" before that.

Based on the fossil evidence, paleontologists speculate that "Gigantopithecus" had an adult standing height of over three meters (ten feet) and a weight of 550 kg (1200 lb), and was thus much larger and heavier than current-day gorillas.

The species lived in Asia and probably inhabited bamboo forests, since its fossils are often found alongside those of extinct ancestors of the panda. Most evidence points to "Gigantopithecus" being a plant-eater. Some believe that being a plant-eating species, "G. blacki" was placed at the losing end of the evolutionary competition with humans.

Its appearance is not known, because of the fragmentary nature of its fossil remains. It is possible that it resembled modern gorillas, because of its supposedly similar lifestyle. Some scientists, however, think that it probably looked more like its closest modern relative, the orangutan. Being so large, it is possible that "Gigantopithecus" had few or no enemies when fully grown; however, younger, weak or injured individuals may have been vulnerable to tiger and "Homo erectus" attacks.

"Gigantopithecus"'s method of locomotion is uncertain, as no pelvic or leg bones have been found. The dominant view is that it walked on all fours like modern gorillas and chimpanzees; however, a minority opinion favor bipedal locomotion, most notably championed by the late Grover Krantz, but it should be noted that this assumption is based only on the very few jawbone remains found, all of which are U-shaped and widen towards the rear. This allows room for the windpipe to be within the jaw, allowing the skull to sit squarely upon a fully-erect spine like modern humans, rather than roughly behind it, like great apes.

Classification

In the past, it had been thought that "G. blacki" was an ancestor of humans, on the basis of molar evidence; this is now regarded a result of convergent evolution. "G. blacki" is now placed in the subfamily Ponginae along with the orangutan.

Cryptozoology

Believers in the existence of the Yeti or "Abominable Snowman" and Bigfoot have theorized that these creatures could be present-day specimens of "G. blacki". Without additional evidence, this must be regarded as highly speculative.

Due to the likelihood that "G. blacki" co-existed with anatomically modern "H. sapiens", it is possible that encounters with the creatures over a hundred thousand years ago may have become, through oral tradition Fact|date=February 2008, the legends about the Yeti or Bigfoot still passed around today (Park, 177-178).Verify credibility|date=February 2008

See also

* Timeline of human evolution

=References=
* Park, Michael Alan. "Biological Anthropology". Mayfield Publishing Co., 1996, ISBN 1-55934-424-5
* cite web
title = Giant ape lived alongside humans
url = http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-11/mu-gal111005.php
accessmonthday = July 3
accessyear = 2008

External links

* [http://www.uiowa.edu/~nathist/Site/giganto.html University of Iowa Museum of Natural History: How Gigantopithecus was discovered]
* [http://www.wynja.com/arch/gigantopithecus.html From the Teeth of the Dragon: Gigantopithecus Blacki]
* [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-11/mu-gal111005.php Giant ape lived alongside humans]
* [http://www.bfro.net/REF/THEORIES/MJM/whatrtha.asp The Bigfoot Giganto Theory]
* [http://www.the-sisterhood.net/walkingwithgiants/id12.html Pre-Historic Giants: The Bigfoot Giganto Theory]
* [http://www.bfro.net Bigfoot Research Organization]