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2024-11-11

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The largest great ape to ever live went extinct because of climate change, says new study (apnews.com)

submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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An ancient species of great ape was likely driven to extinction when climate change put their favorite fruits out of reach during dry seasons, scientists reported Wednesday.

The species Gigantopithecus blacki, which once lived in southern China, represents the largest great ape known to scientists — standing 10 feet tall and weighing up to 650 pounds.

But its size may also have been a weakness.

“It’s just a massive animal – just really, really big,” said Renaud Joannes-Boyau, a researcher at Australia’s Southern Cross University and co-author of the study published in the journal Nature. “When food starts to be scarce, it’s so big it can’t climb trees to explore new food sources.”

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[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (3 children)

"It’s just a massive animal – just really, really big,” said Renaud Joannes-Boyau, a researcher at Australia’s Southern Cross University and co-author of the study published in the journal Nature. “When food starts to be scarce, it’s so big it can’t climb trees to explore new food sources.”

Umm, can't bears and other animals larger than 650 lbs climb trees? Weight doesn't seem like the limiting factor for tree climbing ability.

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 10 points 10 months ago (3 children)

That's partially right, various skills and adaptations are indeed required. Both female gorillas and giant tortoises average around 200 lbs and I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised if I told you that one of those two has shown limited success in the tree-climbing department.

But if we focus back on weight within single animal types, bears in this instance, you'll find a rather tongue-in-cheek answer as to why polar bears can't climb trees. But if you read a little bit further, you'll find in regards to other bears that

... there are some exceptions. We’ve already mentioned polar bears, but they are not alone without the ability to climb trees. Adult brown bears are also unable to climb trees, although this is because of their size rather than the lack of trees in their habitat.

So bears can and do become too heavy to climb trees. As far as I can tell, all able-bodied black bears can climb trees, but they max out at ~550 lbs, just shy of your 650 lb limit.

So, it's very possible for a type of animal famous for a type of behavior to size out from being able to perform that behavior.

[–] MMNT@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Wait, so I CAN climb up a tree to escape from a bear?

[–] Talaraine@kbin.social 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Only the big ones. Hope you brought a scale on your hiking trip.

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago

You can just ask the brown bear how much they weigh, but you might offend them even more

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Brown bear: not impossible. Polar bear: definitely. You might want to find something to do while you and the polar bear wait for a tree of appropriate size to grow in the Arctic. According to the link, you should also ensure the polar bear neither brings nor builds a ladder.

[–] peopleproblems@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Better tip: don't fuck around with polar bears

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 10 months ago

Unless you're ancient Inuit and really hungry. They hunted polar bear, and the bears hunted them back.

[–] SharkAttak@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This brings another theory though, that those apes were so big that when they climbed all the trees snapped/fell, leading to the extinction of the fruit trees and thus themselves.

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Oh yes! I call this "TheFartographer isn't allowed in strip clubs or fire stations anymore" theory.

I was beauty... I was grace... I was described in multiple police reports as "looking like Shamu trying to get back into the pool."

[–] Sagifurius@lemm.ee -2 points 10 months ago

Brown bears can absolutely climb trees, but at a certain size they have trouble climbing bare trunks. Any sturdy branches they're going up.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Dolphins are lighter and smarter than bears but they can't climb trees.

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago

Moist, if true

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 1 points 10 months ago

I imagine there is also the issue with energy. You need to spend a lot of energy to climb a tree when you are 650lbs, if it's just for a few nuts it might not be worth it