News Anthropology

Fossil finds put gibbons in Asia as early as 8 million years ago

A partial upper jaw and 7 isolated teeth raise questions about an older ape tooth from India

a fossilized ape jaw on a black background. The jaw has several discolored teeth

An infant ape’s partial upper jaw and four intact teeth helped researchers to determine that the earliest definitive fossil remains of gibbons date to as early as 8 million years ago in southwestern China.

Terry Harrison

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Small-bodied, long-armed apes called gibbons swing rapidly through the trees, far outpacing scientists’ attempts to decipher these creatures’ evolutionary story.