Gigantopithecus

Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus of apes (see Hominidae). As the name (giant ape) indicates, these were large animals, even larger than current-day gorrilas. They lived in Asia, and probably peopled the bamboo forests; they are often found together with extinct ancestors of the panda. In the past, it has been thought that Gigantopithecus was related to the hominids because of molar evidence; now this is regarded a result of convergent evolution, and Gigantopithecus is regarded to be more closely related to the orangutan than to African apes and humans.