A new environmental warning highlights the rapid decline of rare Tapanuli orangutans, one of the world’s most endangered great ape species found in Indonesia. Researchers say climate change and extreme weather events, including flooding linked to Cyclone Senyar, have severely damaged their fragile habitat, leading to significant loss of life among the population. Scientists are raising urgent concerns that continued environmental pressure could push this species closer to extinction without immediate conservation action.


Climate Change Threatens Great Apes in Indonesia 

Eleven million years ago, the smallest known great ape that weighed just 10 kgs, lived in its full glory. The tiny great ape is far smaller than any other great ape on record.

The species, called Buronius manfredschmidi, is an ancient hominid. It is part of the ancestral family that gave rise to modern humans, gorillas and chimpanzees.

"This new genus is far smaller than any living or any fossil hominid," Professor Madelaine Böhme, a palaeontologist at the University of Tübingen, who led the research, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;

"That makes it quite unusual."

<h2>Human toddler-sized great ape: What did they look like?</h2>

Researchers found that the newly discovered species coexisted with much larger hominid, called Danuvius guggenmosi.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Study: Apes like to tease their friends

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Fossil remains of the larger ape had previously been dated to the same period at the same fossil site in the German region of Bavaria. The new miniature ape has partial remains of two teeth and one kneecap. Their shape and size suggest that the smallest apes were adept climbers. The thin enamel and light wear on its teeth point out it ate a diet of soft fruits and leaves. Its small size would have allowed it to live high up in the canopy.&nbsp;

The findings are published in the journal Plos One.

<h2>Coexisting with larger Danuvius</h2>

Danuvius, on the other hand,&nbsp;was much taller and sturdier. They are thought to be both plant and meat-eaters.&nbsp;

The differences in lifestyle are likely to have allowed the two species to share a habitat without competing for resources much like modern gibbons and orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/king-kong-like-apes-used-to-roam-in-southern-china-before-disappearing-due-to-climate-change-study-678937">A 10-foot-tall ape once roamed Earth but fell victim to climate change: Study</a>

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

The discovery could help scientists understand the diversity of hominids during the late Miocene epoch (about 23.03 to 5.333 million years ago).

"It’s hard to say why there are no small hominids living today," Böhme said. "In evolutionary lineages you normally start small and get bigger, and [once you’re bigger] you don’t normally go back."

(With inputs from agencies)

Eleven million years ago, the smallest known great ape that weighed just 10 kgs, lived in its full glory. The tiny great ape is far smaller than any other great ape on record.

Eleven million years ago, the smallest known great ape that weighed just 10 kgs, lived in its full glory. The tiny great ape is far smaller than any other great ape on record. The species, called Buronius manfredschmidi, is an ancient hominid. It is part of the ancestral family that gave rise to modern humans, gorillas and chimpanzees. "This new genus is far smaller than any living or any fossil hominid," Professor Madelaine Böhme, a palaeontologist at the University of Tübingen, who led the research, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "That makes it quite unusual." Human toddler-sized great ape: What did they look like? Researchers found that the newly discovered species coexisted with much larger hominid, called Danuvius guggenmosi. Also watch | Study: Apes like to tease their friends × Fossil remains of the larger ape had previously been dated to the same period at the same fossil site in the German region of Bavaria. The new miniature ape has partial remains of two teeth and one kneecap. Their shape and size suggest that the smallest apes were adept climbers. The thin enamel and light wear on its teeth point out it ate a diet of soft fruits and leaves. Its small size would have allowed it to live high up in the canopy. The findings are published in the journal Plos One. Coexisting with larger Danuvius Danuvius, on the other hand, was much taller and sturdier. They are thought to be both plant and meat-eaters. The differences in lifestyle are likely to have allowed the two species to share a habitat without competing for resources much like modern gibbons and orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra. Also read | A 10-foot-tall ape once roamed Earth but fell victim to climate change: Study What does it mean? The discovery could help scientists understand the diversity of hominids during the late Miocene epoch (about 23.03 to 5.333 million years ago). "It’s hard to say why there are no small hominids living today," Böhme said. "In evolutionary lineages you normally start small and get bigger, and [once you’re bigger] you don’t normally go back." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find remains of smallest known great ape in Germany

A two-million-year-old fossil may alter our understanding of one of our early human ancestors.

A report about a two-million-year-old primate fossil was published in the journal e-life by an international team of researchers from 16 different universities.

The study included the finding of a vertebrae from Australopithecus sediba, a human cousin, as well as previously found vertebrae fossils.

Not only could A sediba walk upright like a person, but she could also climb like an ape, according to the research.&nbsp;

Two specimens, a juvenile male and an adult female, were discovered in Malapa, South Africa, and were used to define the species.

Extra bones belonging to the female specimen, dubbed MH2 and called Issa, have now been unearthed and studied by experts.

The new bones are lumbar vertebrae from the animal's lower back, a portion of the anatomy that can disclose a lot about how it moved.&nbsp;

"The lumbar region is critical to understanding the nature of bipedalism in our earliest ancestors and to understanding how well adapted they were to walking on two legs," says Professor Scott Williams, lead author of the study.

(With inputs from agencies)

A two-million-year-old fossil may alter our understanding of one of our early human ancestors. A report about a two-million-year-old primate fossil was published in the journal e-life by an international team of researchers from 16 different universities.

A two-million-year-old fossil may alter our understanding of one of our early human ancestors. A report about a two-million-year-old primate fossil was published in the journal e-life by an international team of researchers from 16 different universities. The study included the finding of a vertebrae from Australopithecus sediba, a human cousin, as well as previously found vertebrae fossils. Not only could A sediba walk upright like a person, but she could also climb like an ape, according to the research. Two specimens, a juvenile male and an adult female, were discovered in Malapa, South Africa, and were used to define the species. Extra bones belonging to the female specimen, dubbed MH2 and called Issa, have now been unearthed and studied by experts. The new bones are lumbar vertebrae from the animal's lower back, a portion of the anatomy that can disclose a lot about how it moved. "The lumbar region is critical to understanding the nature of bipedalism in our earliest ancestors and to understanding how well adapted they were to walking on two legs," says Professor Scott Williams, lead author of the study. (With inputs from agencies)

Spine reveals ancient human relative climbed like apes, walked like us

The imagery by artist Simone Fugazzotto featured three&nbsp;apes with different colour eyes and detailing.

"We realised it was inappropriate," the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/juventus-inter-milan-return-to-serie-a-duel-as-napoli-try-to-snap-winless-run-265161">league</a>'s&nbsp;chief&nbsp;executive Luigi De Siervo said in a statement on Tuesday.

Italian clubs <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-match-preview-of-liverpool-vs-as-roma-132620">AS Roma</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-ac-milan-offer-ibrahimovic-six-month-deal-reports-263650">AC Milan</a> have criticised the choice of imagery that the league initially said: "aims to spread the values of integration, multiculturalism and brotherhood".

Fugazzotto, who uses&nbsp;apes in much of his work, defended his creation, saying "we are all monkeys".

The imagery by artist Simone Fugazzotto featured three apes with different colour eyes and detailing. "We realised it was inappropriate," the league's chief executive Luigi De Siervo said in a statement on Tuesday.

The imagery by artist Simone Fugazzotto featured three apes with different colour eyes and detailing. "We realised it was inappropriate," the league's chief executive Luigi De Siervo said in a statement on Tuesday. Italian clubs AS Roma and AC Milan have criticised the choice of imagery that the league initially said: "aims to spread the values of integration, multiculturalism and brotherhood". Fugazzotto, who uses apes in much of his work, defended his creation, saying "we are all monkeys".

Serie-A chief apologises for anti-racism ape artwork

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