Why he extinguished the real King Kong? – Teletrece

The “Gigantopithecus” a giant ape with an air of King Kong, disappeared from the surface of the Earth a million years ago due to its inability to adapt to environmental changes, according to a . scientific study

Measuring two to three meters in height and with an estimated 200-500 kilos This extinct species surely remain the largest monkey in history.

The remains of Gigantopithecus currently available are limited to four lower jaws and “hundreds, perhaps thousands loose teeth “, however, researchers have little information about the size primate” monster “.

” is clearly insufficient to know if the animal was bipedal or quadruped or even imagine its proportions “, told AFP Hervé Bocherens agency, the Center for the Evolution Senckenberg and paleo-environment (Germany), co-author of a study published on the website of the journal Quaternary International .

” Some describe it as a large orangutan dimesiones, chosen for King Louie (the king of the monkeys kidnaps option Mowgli in “The Jungle Book “) in a film to be released in March. But others portray him as a black gorilla, “said the scientist.

With an international team of researchers, Hervé Bocherens studied the tooth enamel discovering that lived confined Gigantopithecus in the woods .

The first teeth were found in 1930 among the “dragon’s teeth” that were sold as a remedy in Chinese pharmacies.

“Our results indicate that these great apes live only in the forests, hence getting their food,” said Hervé Bocherens, adding that they were vegetarians.

For researchers Gigantopithecus size and its limited habitat led to extinction

The current of this great ape family as the orangutan, still live in the forests. However, they have a slow metabolism and can survive with little food.

“Because of its size, a Gigantopithecus needed more food” , said the researcher.

“In the Pleistocene many forest areas became pasture, decreasing food options for the giant ape,” said Hervé Bocherens.