A tooth fossil shows Gigantopithecus’ close ties to modern orangutans

Proteins help clarify how the giant ancient ape evolved

jaw bone

A massive ape that lived in Southeast Asia between around 2 million and 300,000 years ago, represented here by a roughly 15-centimeter-long lower jaw, was a close relative of orangutan forerunners, researchers say.

Wei Wang

An ancient ape that was larger than a full-grown male gorilla has now revealed molecular clues to its evolutionary roots.