• Question: is it possible for a baboon to grow to the size of king kong if it is given the right habitational value

    Asked by bskijski to Suzanne on 21 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Suzanne Harvey

      Suzanne Harvey answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      Well, yes and no… Each baboon has a potential size that it will reach with really good environmental conditions like a healthy diet and protection from exposure to diseases. Captive baboons tend to be bigger and live longer for this reason, but they will never become giant! If environment had this affect in a lifetime, it would be humans who were the size of King Kong, as we’ve got a more comfortable environment than any other species 🙂

      BUT… If the environmental conditions heavily favoured large baboons, and smaller ones died, over many generations they could evolve to be very, very large… Right now, the average male has teeth 4 cm long, so I wouldn’t want to see a giant version!

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