SCIENTISTS studying bones unearthed from an ancient tomb in China’s Shaanxi Province have discovered the remains of a new but totally extinct species of ape.

The experts, who were led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), made the incredible find in a 2300-year-old burial chamber. The tomb may have belonged to Lady Xia, the grandmother of China’s first emperor Qin Shihuang, who oversaw the construction of the Great Wall of China and the famous Terracotta Army, Fox News reports.

When the tomb was excavated in 2004, a number of animal remains, which included gibbon bones, were unearthed from 12 burial pits. By harnessing computer modelling, scientists were able to identify a new genus and species of gibbon. Named Junzi imperialis, records indicate that the gibbon probably survived until less than 300 years ago.

“This previously unknown species was likely widespread, may have persisted until the 18th century, and may be the first ape species to have perished as a direct result of human activities,” the researchers wrote in the study, which has been published in the journal Science.

Scientists have said the discovery of the extinct ape species is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the world’s apes, particularly gibbons.

“Our discovery and description of Junzi imperialis suggests that we are underestimating the impact of humans on primate diversity,” the study’s lead author Dr Samuel Turvey from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology said in a statement.

“These findings reveal the importance of using historical archives such as the archaeological record to inform our understanding of conservation and stress the need for greater international collaboration to protect surviving populations of gibbons in the wild.”

ZSL warned that all the world’s apes are threatened with extinction today due to human activities.

The researchers noted that 73 per cent of Asian primates are currently threatened, compared to 60 per cent globally, adding that two species of gibbons — including the white-handed gibbon — have recently disappeared in China. All surviving Chinese gibbon species are currently classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species

“The Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus), a species of gibbon found on Hainan Island in southern China, is now probably the world’s rarest mammal, with only 26 surviving individuals,” ZSL said in its statement.

Seven primates, including the Bornean orang-utan and the Eastern Lowland gorilla, are currently listed as critically endangered by the World Wildlife Fund. Bonobos and chimpanzees are classified as endangered, while the black spider monkey is listed as vulnerable.

Last year scientists announced the discovery of a new species of orang-utan in North Sumatra, Indonesia, but warned that it could soon be extinct.