General Chat

Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus of ape that existed from roughly one million years to as recently as three-hundred thousand years ago,in Asia, placing it in the same time frame and geographical location as several hominid species.

The fossil remains suggests that the Gigantopithecus species were the largest apes that ever lived, standing up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) and weighing up to 540 kilograms (1,200 lb or 85.7 stone).

Obviously too heavy to be arborial, this ape may have walked upright but more probably moved like a chimp or gorilla. Its colossal size and strength would have put it beyond predation.

Not my ancestor Len - I'm only 5'3!
Mind you, my g x 6 grandfather was. according to the local newspaper the heaviest man in England when he died in 1842 - he was nearly 7 ft tall and weighed a (by todays standards) a paltry 32 stone!

Hi Len, where did you hear this? it is really interesting, he sounds a lot like Big Foot,or Sasquach,who some believe still inhabits the forests in America.There is also one in the Himalayas,can't think what he is called(old age setting in)

Have they found any remains of the Asian one?

Sounds more like the result of a Saturday Night Pee up.The name seems to match it.**M**.:o)>

no way is it related to me, im telling you,
we got no apes yer

ive got a genius son but he not an ape

Could we please have at least one interesting thread,that dosn't degenerate into a mess of meaningless drivel????

Annina. I think you are referring to the Yeti. Certainly,traces of these mythical creatures found in desolate but wooded areas of the world suggest a likeness to Giganopithecus. It is notable that the stories were around before mass-communications and occurred in such far-flung regions as the Americas and in Asia.
Previously unknown species are still being discovered at the rate of about one a week

We have the Yowie, so these stories of giant apes are probably world wide. From what I can remember the Yowie has been around since Australian settlement. I also believe there are Aboriginal stories associated with this creature.

I do not want to meet one, though, Lens post is very interesting.

Gail

Scientists have found more evidence that the Indonesian "Hobbit" skeletons belong to a new species of human - and not modern pygmies.

The one metre (3ft) tall, 30kg (65lbs) humans roamed the Indonesian island of Flores, perhaps up to 8,000 years ago.

Since the discovery, researchers have argued vehemently as to the identity of these diminutive people.

Two papers in the journal Nature now support the idea they were an entirely new species of human.

The team, which discovered the tiny remains in Liang Bua cave on Flores, contends that the population belongs to the species Homo floresiensis - separate from our own grouping, Homo sapiens.

The group argues that the "Hobbits" are descended from a prehistoric species of human - perhaps Homo erectus - which reached island South-East Asia more than a million years ago.
BBC News 6 May 2008