NationStates Jolt Archive

Scientists believe they have discovered a new group of giant apes in the jungles of central Africa.
The animals, with characteristics of both gorillas and chimpanzees, have been sighted in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They stand up to two metres tall, the size of gorillas, but unlike gorillas, they nest on the ground, not in trees.
If they are a new species of primate, it could be one of the most important wildlife discoveries in decades.
According to local villagers, the apes living in the remote forests of northern DR Congo are ferocious, and even capable of killing lions.
But these mysterious apes live hundreds of kilometres away from any other known gorilla populations, and their diet is closer to that of chimpanzees.
The discovery has baffled scientists.
They are now studying whether this could be a new species of ape.
Another possibility is that the creatures are giant chimpanzees, much larger than any so far recorded, but which behave like gorillas.
Or alternatively, they could be hybrids, the product of gorillas mating with chimpanzees.
So far, researchers have little to go on, but they now plan to return to northern DR Congo to study the apes further.
In the meantime, there are fears that unless measures are taken to protect them, poaching could threaten this new group of primates before the mystery of their identity is resolved.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3730574.stm

Wow, now this will be interesting

It's an invasion force. Thats why they have been undiscovered for so long. They are building bases in secret for the rest of their fleet.

hehehe.... monkeys

Nah, its not the apes we have to worry about, its the cows!
The cows are coming!


Back to reality, cool find

Will they bring one to New York to display it? I hope it doesn't get loose and climb up the Empire State building? :D

Oh, did they find Bush's relatives finally?

They're just ordinary, run-of-the-mill gorillas with slightly different habits. They concluded that about 1 or 2 years ago. This is really old news.

They're just ordinary, run-of-the-mill gorillas with slightly different habits. They concluded that about 1 or 2 years ago. This is really old news.
You should take a look at the date on that article then.

You should take a look at the date on that article then.
They're rereporting it. I've seen this about 5 or so times in the past 2 years. They're reporting old news. They always do that when it comes to science.

Yeah hes right

Primatologist Shelly Williams is thought to be the only scientist to have seen the apes.

During her visit to DR Congo two years ago, she says she captured them on video and located their nests.

capable of killing lions? they live in the savanna how are people supposed to know that?

They could name it Simian Teresahienzkerryicus Africanus.

hehehe.... monkeys

Not monkeys. Apes. Monkeys have tails. Apes don't.

Wow!
Thanks for the article

Well, I'm sure that they captured a lion and shipped it all the way to the Gorilla's nesting ground, and bet on the outcome.
Somewhere out there is a very very rich native.

They could name it Simian Teresahienzkerryicus Africanus.
Are you trying to get yourself banned?

They could name it Simian Teresahienzkerryicus Africanus.
Freshmen year HS Bio-sense... tingling!


Gigantopithecus teresahienzkerryicus
Italicize under all situations Genus first, always capitalized, then species. The only way to put the species name only is G. teresahienzkerryicus, Genus's initial then the species name.

And that's if they were genuine Giant apes. Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus, meaning one hair from their pelt would be worth more than the rest of Congo.


There. You can now pretend you attended highschool.
<PBS>The More You Know</PBS>

Freshmen year HS Bio-sense... tingling!


Gigantopithecus teresahienzkerryicus
Italicize under all situations Genus first, always capitalized, then species. The only way to put the species name only is G. teresahienzkerryicus, Genus's initial then the species name.

And that's if they were genuine Giant apes. Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus, meaning one hair from their pelt would be worth more than the rest of Congo.


There. You can now pretend you attended highschool.
<PBS>The More You Know</PBS>

I think he received most of his education watching Roadrunner cartoons. :D

Freshmen year HS Bio-sense... tingling!


Gigantopithecus teresahienzkerryicus
Italicize under all situations Genus first, always capitalized, then species. The only way to put the species name only is G. teresahienzkerryicus, Genus's initial then the species name.

And that's if they were genuine Giant apes. Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus, meaning one hair from their pelt would be worth more than the rest of Congo.


There. You can now pretend you attended highschool.
<PBS>The More You Know</PBS>
Wow, thanks, now I feel all edumucated and stuff.

I recently read in NS that some biologists want to reclassify everything (that's done under that system) in what they think is a more consistent system. Yes, I'm bored...

I, for one, welcome our new primate overlords.