Giant ape Gigantopithecus went extinct 100,000 years ago due to its inability to adapt

2/4. Prof. Dr. Friedemann Schrenk holds a molar (type specimen) of Giganthopithecus. Credit: Senckenberg

Scientists from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Tübingen and from the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt examined the demise of the giant ape Gigantopithecus. In their study, published recently in the scientific journal Quaternary International, they reach the conclusion that the presumably largest apes in geological history died due to their insufficient adaptability. Analyses of fossil tooth enamel show that the primates were restricted to forested habitats.

It is well documented that the giant ape Gigantopithecus was huge – but beyond this fact, there are many uncertainties regarding the extinct ancestor of the orangutan. Size indications vary from 1.8 to 3 meters, and weight estimates between 200 and 500 kilograms. [...] phys.org


Actualización: El King Kong real desapareció hace 100.000 años por inadaptado - RTVE.es  
El Gigantophitecus, el simio más grande de la historia, se extinguió hace 100.000 años debido a su capacidad de adaptación insuficiente. Este es el resultado de un estudio de científicos del Centro Senckenberg de Evolución Humana y Paleoambiente en la Universidad de Tübingen y del Instituto de Investigación Senckenberg en Frankfurt, publicado en 'Quaternary International'. El análisis de esmalte de dientes fósiles muestran que los primates estaban restringidos a hábitats forestales...