Posted on 06/23/2018 4:26:57 PM PDT by BBell
An entirely new species of ape has been discovered buried in an ancient tomb in central China.
The remains of the now-extinct gibbon, which researchers have named Junzi imperialis, were found in a burial chamber in Shaanxi Province that dates back around 2,300 years.
Researchers believe it may be the first ape species to have perished as a direct result of human activities such as hunting.
“All of the world’s apes - chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and gibbons - are threatened with extinction today due to human activities, but no ape species were thought to have become extinct as a result of historic hunting or habitat loss,” note scientists at the Zoological Society of London, who led the research.
“However, the discovery of the recently extinct Junzi changes this, and highlights the vulnerability of gibbons in particular.”
The Junzi are believed to have completely died out less than 300 years ago and could be one of a number of now-extinct gibbon species that once inhabited central China.
Lead author Dr Samuel Turvey said the discovery suggests we are currently “underestimating the impact of humans on primate diversity”.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I thought if a species goes extinct, even a single one, the world ends.
You maniacs! You blew it up!
Must have been slow and tasted good.
Screw it. Damn dirty ape.
According to Wikipedia, there are 18 extant species of gibbons in four genera. The newly-discovered gibbon has been assigned to a fifth genus (no surviving members).
I was thinking that. Eaten to extinction.
at least you can not blame the extinction on White Male Trophy Hunters.
the discovery suggests we are currently “underestimating the impact of primates on human diversity”.
The democrat party is working hard on fixing this.
Helen thomas...
The rest of the extinct gibbons are in many other tombs and that is why they are extinct.
first laugh of the day - thanks
Thanks BBell. Another team of researchers is in the field right now, searching for the elusive euell gibbons.
Isn’t he that “nut” guy?
The Telegraph wants me to register before I read their story. Not a snowball’s chance in hell.
Grape-Nuts -- "did you know you can eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible."
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