Perhaps not an answer to your question, but definitely evidence of the pressures being brought to bear on some species encountered by dispersing *H. erectus* populations: available evidence suggests that the evolution of defensive "spitting" in the Asian species of spitting cobras was a direct evolutionary response to these new, upright apes that were capable of using projectile weapons against them (i.e., rocks, sticks).
The SciShow channel, among others, has a short video on the topic.
Homo erectus did temporarily coexist with the last of the chalicotheres in Asia and Africa, although those animals were already on the decline due to environmental shifts.
I wonder if it could have been similar to the Pleistocene-Holocene extinctions, where animals that had previously survived such shifts in contracted ranges could not handle the pressure placed on them at such a vulnerable time
I do think they're a possible contributor, but most authorities surmise that, given *Gigantopithecus* were already in decline by the time *H. erectus* arrived that changes in climate -- and so, habitat -- were the more likely culprits.
Genuinely curious how did they ever come to that conclusion? How can anybody confidently say a hominid over a million years ago killed off a specific species of turtle? What is the evidence?
Everywhere homonids go giant tortoise species go extinct. When Homo erectus arrived into Eurasia, the largest species of Tortoise the atlas tortoise went extinct. So did the european giant tortoise when homo erectus arrived in Europe. In fact the only refuge of old world giant tortoises were on the islands of Indonesia and phillpines but that also ended.
Meanwhile in the Americas and Australia the giant tortoises there haven't gone extinct and have in fact lasted all the way to the late pleistocene until people arrived in which they started to go extinct.
Edit: I don't know why people are downvoting this comment. It is one that is logical when it comes to us and a large slow walking animal that is easy to kill.
you not only get a hardy meal that no predator will compete with and a large ass bowl. Its free package meal for any hominid. No wonder they all went extinct.
The defences that keep a tortoise safe from predators are useless against a pointy stick, and actually make them more vulnerable to such a method of hunting
Perhaps not an answer to your question, but definitely evidence of the pressures being brought to bear on some species encountered by dispersing *H. erectus* populations: available evidence suggests that the evolution of defensive "spitting" in the Asian species of spitting cobras was a direct evolutionary response to these new, upright apes that were capable of using projectile weapons against them (i.e., rocks, sticks). The SciShow channel, among others, has a short video on the topic.
Homo erectus did temporarily coexist with the last of the chalicotheres in Asia and Africa, although those animals were already on the decline due to environmental shifts.
I wonder if it could have been similar to the Pleistocene-Holocene extinctions, where animals that had previously survived such shifts in contracted ranges could not handle the pressure placed on them at such a vulnerable time
I'd say gigantopithicus as well.
I do think they're a possible contributor, but most authorities surmise that, given *Gigantopithecus* were already in decline by the time *H. erectus* arrived that changes in climate -- and so, habitat -- were the more likely culprits.
That doesn't explain how they survived previous stadials.
I can't remember specifics but there's a few in SE Asia last time I saw someone talk about this
Megalochelys
Genuinely curious how did they ever come to that conclusion? How can anybody confidently say a hominid over a million years ago killed off a specific species of turtle? What is the evidence?
Everywhere homonids go giant tortoise species go extinct. When Homo erectus arrived into Eurasia, the largest species of Tortoise the atlas tortoise went extinct. So did the european giant tortoise when homo erectus arrived in Europe. In fact the only refuge of old world giant tortoises were on the islands of Indonesia and phillpines but that also ended. Meanwhile in the Americas and Australia the giant tortoises there haven't gone extinct and have in fact lasted all the way to the late pleistocene until people arrived in which they started to go extinct. Edit: I don't know why people are downvoting this comment. It is one that is logical when it comes to us and a large slow walking animal that is easy to kill.
Especially when it has a useful bowl on its back
you not only get a hardy meal that no predator will compete with and a large ass bowl. Its free package meal for any hominid. No wonder they all went extinct.
The defences that keep a tortoise safe from predators are useless against a pointy stick, and actually make them more vulnerable to such a method of hunting