We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Gigantopithecus?

Michael Anissimov
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 14,372
Share

Gigantopithecus (meaning "gigantic ape") was a huge ape, the largest primate that ever lived, with a height of 10 ft (3 m) and weighing up to 1,200 lbs (640 kg). Its fossils have been dated to between one million and about 300,000 years ago. Finds of Gigantopithecus, mostly fossilized teeth or jawbones, have been located in present-day China, Vietnam, and India, suggesting that its range was Southeast Asia. Complete skeletons of Gigantopithecus have not been found, but much has been inferred about its size and lifestyle by the teeth and mandibles alone.

Like its closest living relative, the orangutan, Gigantopithecus is thought to have been arboreal and a vegetarian. Like the orangutan, Gigantopithecus was a member of family Pongidae, of which the former is the only surviving member. If Gigantopithecus had the same fur color as the orangutan, it would have been colored reddish-brown, but this is speculation. Most reconstructions of the animal favor reddish-brown fur, however. The remains of two species have been found: Giantopithecus blacki, the largest and most famous, and Gigantopithecus giganteus, which was half its size.

Fossils of Homo erectus, the ancestors of humans, have been found alongside Gigantopithecus, suggesting that the two coexisted. Homo erectus probably competed with Gigantopithecus, and the two may have fought directly. Homo erectus has been implicated in the decline of Gigantopithecus, which would have occurred somewhat earlier than the decline of Neanderthals in Europe due to modern humans. When Gigantopithecus and Homo erectus lived in China, modern humans had yet to evolve, only emerging about 250,000 years ago in East Africa.

Because Gigantopithecus was a giant ape, some consider it reminiscent of Bigfoot, and some cryptozoologists have proposed that Bigfoot and Yeti sightings can be explained by the existence of surviving Gigantopithecus. However, there are several problems with this proposition, including the fact that 1) Gigantopithecus exclusively inhabited bamboo forests, while Bigfoot and Yeti sightings almost always occur outside these forests, 2) Gigantopithecus would have probably been able to survive long outside the forest, much less make it all the way across the Bering Strait into North America, 3) Bigfoot and Yeti sightings refer to an upright-walking animal, while Gigantopithecus is believed to have walked on its knuckles, like modern gorillas.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
By surayabay — On Aug 24, 2013

Are there any private, serious, scientifically legitimate, well funded,trained and equipped search efforts in the works to find or at least positively identify if a so-called "Bigfoot" creature is real, or just a misidentified known or unknown animal?

I'm thinking about multiple groups, thoroughly trained and equipped "Delta Force" type teams with state of the art equipment, satellite infrared tracking methods and technology most of us have never heard of yet? And I don't mean any of these foolish and embarrassing TV shows "Bigfoot hunters" we see ad nauseum?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-gigantopithecus.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.