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Description

It is 400,000 years ago in the middle Pleistocene epoch. On a tropical island positioned somewhere between Southeast Asia and Australasia, the giant monitor lizard Varanus priscus attacks the giant orangutan relative Gigantopithecus blacki. No matter how much of a fight it puts up, the great ape is likely doomed, as its reptilian adversary possesses a venomous bite like the related Komodo dragon.
By the way, the small goat-like animal fleeing the scene would be a mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), whereas the bird showing shock to the upper left is a great hornbill (Buceros bicornis). Unlike the two main combatants here, which have both gone extinct, both the serow and the hornbill are still around in Southeast Asia.

Also check out this "old movie" version of the artwork!

Description

It is 400,000 years ago in the middle Pleistocene epoch. On a tropical island positioned somewhere between Southeast Asia and Australasia, the giant monitor lizard Varanus priscus attacks the giant orangutan relative Gigantopithecus blacki. No matter how much of a fight it puts up, the great ape is likely doomed, as its reptilian adversary possesses a venomous bite like the related Komodo dragon.
By the way, the small goat-like animal fleeing the scene would be a mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), whereas the bird showing shock to the upper left is a great hornbill (Buceros bicornis). Unlike the two main combatants here, which have both gone extinct, both the serow and the hornbill are still around in Southeast Asia.

Also check out this "old movie" version of the artwork!