Gigantopithecus: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:19, 25 March 2025

Revision as of 19:19, 25 March 2025

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===Size===

Total size estimates are highly speculative because only tooth and jaw elements are known, and molar size and total body weight do not always correlate, such as in the case of [[postcanine megadontia]] hominins (small-bodied primate exhibiting massive molars and thick enamel).<ref name= "Olejniczak2008"/> In 1946, Weidenreich hypothesised that ''Gigantopithecus'' was twice the size of male gorillas.<ref name=Weidenreich1946/> In 1957, Pei estimated a total height of about {{convert|12|ft|abbr=in|order=flip}}. In 1970, Simons and American palaeontologist Peter Ettel approximated a height of almost {{convert|9|ft|abbr=in|order=flip}} and a weight of up to {{convert|600|lb|abbr=in|order=flip}}, which is about 40% heavier than the average male gorilla. However, certain primatologists suggest ''Gigantopithecus'' was similar in size to modern gorillas, suggesting a height of 1.8 m (6 feet) and a corresponding weight of 250 kg (550 pounds).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Willoughby |first=David P. |title=All about Gorillas |date=1978 |publisher=A. S. Barnes |year=1978 |isbn=9780498018459}}</ref> In 1979, American anthropologist Alfred E. Johnson Jr. used the dimensions of gorillas to estimate a [[femur]] length of {{cvt|54.4|cm|ftin|0}} and [[humerus]] length of {{cvt|62.7|cm|ftin|0}} for ''Gigantopithecus'', about 20–25% longer than those of gorillas.<ref>{{cite journal|first=A. E. Jr. |last=Johnson |year= 1979 |title= Skeletal Estimates of ''Gigantopithecus'' Based on a Gorilla Analogy|journal=Journal of Human Evolution|volume=8|issue=6|pages=585–587|doi=10.1016/0047-2484(79)90111-8|bibcode=1979JHumE...8..585J }}</ref> In 2017, Chinese palaeoanthropologist Yingqi Zhang and American anthropologist Terry Harrison suggested a body mass of {{convert|200|-|300|kg|abbr=in}}, though conceded that it is impossible to obtain a reliable body mass estimate without more complete remains.<ref name= ZhangHarrison2017/> Either way, this would make ''Gigantopithecus'' the biggest primate ever recorded.<ref name="NAT-20240110"/>

The average maximum length of the upper [[canine tooth|canines]] for presumed males and females are {{convert|21.1|mm|abbr=in|frac=4}} and {{convert|15.4|mm|abbr=in|frac=2}}, respectively, and Mandible III (presumed male) is 40% larger than Mandible I (presumed female). These imply [[sexual dimorphism]], with males being larger than females. Such a high degree of dimorphism is only surpassed by gorillas among modern apes in canine size, and is surpassed by none for mandibular disparity.<ref name= ZhangHarrison2017/>