An Ape Before Orangutans
In the lignite (soft coal) beds of Yunnan Province, paleontologists have unearthed thousands of fossils belonging to Lufengpithecus, an extinct ape that lived during the Late Miocene epoch. The genus spans a significant amount of time, with the oldest species, L. keiyuanensis, dating to between 10 and 11 million years ago. Other important fossil sites at Lufeng and Yuanmou have yielded remains from 6.2 to 8.2 million years ago. This ape lived when climates were cooling globally, causing the extinction of many ape species across Eurasia. Southern China, however, may have remained a warm and humid refuge, allowing this lineage to survive longer than its relatives elsewhere.
One of the most important discoveries is the crushed but nearly complete cranium of a juvenile Lufengpithecus lufengensis, found at a site called Shuitangba and dating to about 6.2 million years old. Juvenile ape skulls are exceptionally rare in the fossil record, making this find important for understanding the growth and appearance of this species. An adult Lufengpithecus likely weighed around 50 kilograms (110 lbs). Its teeth feature thick enamel and large molars, suggesting a diet that could handle tough foods, though studies point towards a preference for soft fruits and leaves.