Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro The mystery of the disappearance of Gigantopithecus blacki, the giant ape of Chinese karst landscapes: recent international studies shed light on the causes of its extinction, offering vital lessons for understanding the resilience of primates in the face of environmental threats
©Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)
Once, the vast karst landscapes of southern China were the domain of colossal primates known as Gigantopithecus blacki. These giants, towering up to three meters in height and weighing 250 kilograms, are considered distant relatives of humans. While their extinction predates human arrival in those areas, the reasons behind their demise remain shrouded in mystery. Their existence is solely evidenced by around 2000 fossilized teeth and four mandibles.
Recent revelations
Recent discoveries in the region, published in the journal Nature by an international team of Chinese, Australian, and American researchers, have definitively clarified that the largest primate ever to roam the Earth went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago. These behemoths failed to adapt to changes in their dietary and behavioral habits, rendering them vulnerable to the climatic shifts that sealed their fate.
A paleontological enigma
Professor Yingqi Zhang of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IVPP) describes the saga of G. blacki as a paleontological enigma. Despite decades of research, the precise cause of their extinction remained elusive until recent breakthroughs. The IVPP team dedicated over a decade to scouring the region for evidence, to no avail until the introduction of more precise dating methods and thorough environmental analyses.
The research project, which scrutinized 22 cave sites in Guangxi Province, provided definitive evidence regarding the extinction of G. blacki, revealing that the species thrived in rich, diverse forests before perishing much earlier than previously thought. This extensive study relied primarily on radiometric dating and environmental analysis to trace the species’ history.
@Nature
Insights from the past
Between 700,000 and 600,000 years ago, the environment became more variable, with heightened seasonal intensity altering forest community structures. Unlike orangutans, which adapted by altering size, behavior, and habitat preferences, G. blacki resorted to less nutritious food sources when its primary choices were unavailable, reducing mobility and geographic foraging range. This specialized behavior, in comparison to the greater agility of orangutans, led to its extinction.
The project employed six different dating techniques on cave sediments and fossils, yielding 157 radiometric ages. These data, combined with eight sources of environmental and behavioral evidence, allowed for the establishment of a precise timeline for G. blacki’s extinction. Detailed tooth analysis provided further insights into environmental conditions and species behaviors, highlighting stress, food source diversity, and repeated behaviors that marked its final days.
These discoveries not only elucidate the history of a vanished species but also offer valuable lessons on primate resilience and the fate of other large animals in the face of environmental changes. In an era where the threat of a sixth mass extinction event looms increasingly real, understanding the causes of past extinctions becomes crucial for safeguarding our planet’s biodiversity.
Source: Nature
