Discovering Gigantopithecus - An Ancient “Bigfoot”

Gigantopithecus was first discovered when a paleontologist found a molar belonging to a giant ape while examining bones said to be dragon bones in a Chinese apothecary.

After the discovery of the molar, hundreds of other teeth were revealed that apparently belonged to a mysterious giant ape with yellowish-stained teeth. Because of the color, it was dubbed “yellow earth fauna.”

In 1956, a jaw belonging to the creature was discovered by a Chinese farmer, which gave paleontologists a better understanding of the nature of Gigantopithecus.

Since its discovery, scientists have learned much more about this mysterious ape. It probably first evolved about 9 million years ago in China and did not become extinct until about 300,000 years ago, the time of Homo Heidelbergensis .

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A comparison graph of the height of a 1.8-meter-tall human male with the Gigantopithecus species. This graph is based on orangutan proportions in a bipedal stance. It is most likely that Gigantopithecus would have spent most of its time in a quadrupedal stance, on all fours.

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Lower mandible of Gigantopithecus blacki (cast). In the collections of The College of Wooster, Ohio.

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Probably twice the size of a modern gorilla, Gigantopithecus is the greatest great-ape that ever was.

The evidence of the life and death of Gigantopithecus is very limited and their extinction is still considered, by scientists, as somewhat of a mystery.