Existing comment:
Gigantopithecus
A Giant Among Primates:
This species is the largest known primate. It lived between 9 million and 400,000 years ago in what is now India, Pakistan, China, and Vietnam. In China, its remains have been found along with those of Homo erectus. Scientists have proposed that Homo erectus was partly responsible for this giant primate's extinction -- possibly by hunting it.
Sized from Teeth and Jaws:
Teeth and lower jaws are all that have been found of Gigantopithecus, but they reveal much about this ape. The wear pattern on the teeth suggests it ate bamboo and fruit. Judging from the size of its jaws, a male Gigantopithecus was about 10 feet (3 m) tall and 1,200 pounds (544 kg) -- nearly twice the size of a modern male gorilla. This primary may have been related to orangutans. |