Evolutionary trend in dental size in Gigantopithecus blacki revisited

Zhang, Yingqi; Kono, Reiko T.; Wang, Wei; Harrison, Terry; Takai, Masanaru; Ciochon, Russell L.; Chen, Jin

doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.03.005

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(55 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Another interesting aspect is the contra-directional changes observed in the dental size of these two great ape genera. While Pongo generally became dentally smaller from Early to Late Pleistocene, as demonstrated in the current study, post-canine teeth of Gigantopithecus became increasingly larger from Early to Middle Pleistocene (Zhang et al 2015). The differential relative abundance and contra-directional changes as shown in Gigantopithecus and Pongo may be an adaptive mechanism evolved to avoid full competitive exclusion in geographical areas where the two genera occurred.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…At first, Gigantopithecus was found to be more numerous than Pongo but showed a gradually reduced relative abundance from the Early to Middle Pleistocene (Takai et al 2014). Locally, Gigantopithecus became extinct in south China at the beginning of the Late Pleistocene, probably caused by the disappearance of dense bamboo forests in the area (Zhang et al 2015), whereas Pongo appears to persist until Holocene (Harrison et al 2014;Takai et al 2014). Another interesting aspect is the contra-directional changes observed in the dental size of these two great ape genera.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biogeographic distribution and metric dental variation of fossil and living orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Tshen

2015

Primates

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The genus Pongo has a relatively richer Quaternary fossil record than those of the African great apes. Fossil materials are patchy in terms of anatomical parts represented, limited almost exclusively to isolated teeth, jaw and bone fragments. Fossil evidence indicates that the genus Pongo had a broadly continuous distribution across the southern part of the Indomalayan biogeographic region, ranging in time from Early Pleistocene to Holocene: southern China (77 fossil sites), Vietnam (15), Laos (6), Cambodia (2), Thailand (4), Peninsular Malaysia (6), Sumatra (4), Borneo (6) and Java (4). Within this distribution range, there are major geographical gaps with no known orangutan fossils, notably central and southern Indochina, central and southern Thailand, eastern Peninsular Malaysia, northern and southern Sumatra, and Kalimantan. The geological time and place of origin of the genus remain unresolved. Fossil orangutan assemblages usually show greater extent of dental metrical variation than those of modern-day populations. Such variability shown in prehistoric populations has partially contributed to confusion regarding past taxonomic diversity and systematic relationships among extinct and living forms. To date, no fewer than 14 distinct taxa have been identified and named for Pleistocene orangutans. Clear cases suggestive of predation by prehistoric human are few in number, and limited to terminal Pleistocene-Early Holocene sites in Borneo and a Late Pleistocene site in Vietnam.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographic distribution and metric dental variation of fossil and living orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Tshen

2015

Primates

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is no record of G. blacki from Late Pleistocene sites, and it presumably became extinct by the late Middle Pleistocene (Shao et al, in press; Zhang et al, ). The cause of its extinction is still an open question.…”

Section: Age and Geographic Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is possible that ecological changes at the end of the Middle Pleistocene precipitated its demise (Jablonski, Whitfort, Roberts‐Smith, & Xu, ; Louys, Curnoe, & Tong, ). The increase in size of the teeth of G. blacki through time, as well as the appearance of morphological changes in the dentition in a late‐surviving population, indicates that G. blacki may have been adapting its dietary behavior in response to ecological pressure (Zhang et al, ). However, there is little empirical support for an ecological shift at this time that might have led to its extinction.…”

Section: Age and Geographic Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Gigantopithecus blacki: a giant ape from the Pleistocene of Asia revisited

Zhang

Harrison

2017

American J Phys Anthropol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gigantopithecus blacki is the largest hominoid that ever lived. The consensus view is that it is a specialized pongine and late-surviving member of the Sivapithecus-Indopithecus lineage. It is known primarily from Early and Middle Pleistocene cave sites in southern China, dating from 2.0 Ma to almost 300 ka. The cause of its extinction in the late Middle Pleistocene is unknown, but ecological change or the arrival of Homo erectus may have been contributing factors. Gigantopithecus is highly specialized in its dentognathic anatomy, with a unique combination of features that distinguish it from all other hominoids. Based on the size of its dentition and mandible, a reasonable estimate of its body mass would be 200-300 kg. There was a progressive increase in dental size from the Early Pleistocene to the Middle Pleistocene, and possibly a shift towards greater complexity of the cheek teeth. Gigantopithecus exhibits a relatively high degree of sexual dimorphism, implying a high level of male-male competition, but the relatively small canines in both sexes suggest that these teeth were not important in agonistic behaviors. The species inhabited a subtropical monsoon forest with a closed canopy and dense understory. Foraging was focused on the forest floor and its diet included a broad range of C 3 plants, including fruits, leaves and stems, and possibly tubers. The cheek teeth and jaws were adapted for processing a wide variety of bulky, fibrous, and abrasive food items, but the small incisors indicate that incisal preparation was not an important part of its feeding repertoire.

show abstract

First direct evidence of conservative foraging ecology of early Gigantopithecus blacki (~2 Ma) in Guangxi, southern China

Jiang

Zhao

Guo

et al. 2021

American J Phys Anthropol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest hominoid known, is one of the representative Pleistocene mammals in southern China and northern Southeast Asia. Here we investigate the feeding ecology of G. blacki in its core habitat (Guangxi, Southern China) during the early Early Pleistocene, which was the early period in its evolution. Materials and methods The stable isotopic (C, O) analysis of tooth enamel of the fauna associated with G. blacki (n = 58), including the largest number of G. blacki teeth (n = 12) to date from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave (~2 Ma), Guangxi, China, is undertaken. Results The δ13C values of Liucheng fauna range from −12.9 to −19.0‰ with an average of −16.1 ± 1.3‰ (n = 58) and the δ18O values range from −4.3 to −9.6‰ with an average of −6.9 ± 1.2‰ (n = 58). The δ13C values of G. blacki range from −15.9‰ to −17.0‰ with an average of −16.5 ± 0.4‰ (n = 12), and the δ18O values vary from −5.9‰ to −7.5‰ with an average of −6.6 ± 0.5‰ (n = 12). Conclusions The isotopic data show Guangxi was characterized by closed C3 forest and humid climate in the early Early Pleistocene. Niche partitioning is found among G. blacki, Sinomastodon, Ailuropoda and Stegodon, the typical megafauna in South China in the early Early Pleistocene. This could be one of the important factors for them to co‐exist until the Middle Pleistocene. Smallest isotopic variations of G. blacki are found compared with those of contemporary animals, indicating a conservative foraging ecology i.e., limited foraging area and/or narrow dietary flexibility. Furthermore, the more confined foraging ecology of G. blacki is also seen in comparison with fossil and extant large‐bodied primates. However, the unique dietary pattern of G. blacki does not seem to have hindered its survival. The environment in Guangxi during the early Early Pleistocene offered the suitable conditions for G. blacki to become one of the typical species in the faunal assemblages.

show abstract

Evolutionary trend in dental size in Gigantopithecus blacki revisited

Cited by 12 publications

References 28 publications

Biogeographic distribution and metric dental variation of fossil and living orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Biogeographic distribution and metric dental variation of fossil and living orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Gigantopithecus blacki: a giant ape from the Pleistocene of Asia revisited

First direct evidence of conservative foraging ecology of early Gigantopithecus blacki (~2 Ma) in Guangxi, southern China

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About