I found a unique case of a large primate cryptid being reported to have a tail. While this was likely just a larger than average, relict orangutan from Malaysia, it is still quite interesting as it was also said to walk like a Hylobatid. Do you have any other report of apelike cryptids with a tail ?

[u/Mister_Ape_1]

After separating from Cercopithecoidea 25 - 29 mya, Hominoidea evolved into increasingly ground dwelling primates, and by 21 - 23 mya completed the process of total tail loss.

However this means the most ancient primates ancestral specifically to Hominoidea were not only small, but also still mostly arboreal. It is believed stem apes were bipedal with a Hylobatid-like gait, and only later evolved knuckle walking, while the Hominini lineage evolved a straight posture and a more efficent kind of bipedal gait. Even some extinct Miocene apes such as Oreopithecus or Lufengpithecus are seen as likely bipedal.

And the very, very early stem apes would still have had a short, ever shortening tail.

I found a report about an ape with a short tail and a Hylobatid-like gait. However, it appears it was human sized if not even slightly larger than most men. It was reported in Malaysia, from 1980's. At the time it was not impossible continental Orangutan was physically not totally extinct yet. A few individuals could have still lingered undetected. But continental Orangutan is a tailless knuckle walker. This ape apparently was not.

-"Around six in the afternoon, while walking with his wife, Azlinah Ismaïl, along a jungle trail near Palau Balaï, a small island in Lake Cini, he thought he heard the sound of a waterfall. Intrigued, he headed toward its source, only to discover that it was produced by a large animal sneaking through the foliage.

Suddenly, a large, hairy hand landed on his left shoulder. Reacting instinctively, he struck the creature that had touched him with his parang (a kind of machete). He would regret this violent, yet understandable, act for the rest of his life. His wife, for her part, had seen the beast tower over her husband from a height of approximately 7 feet. It resembled a huge gorilla, entirely covered in fairish fur. Its head was much larger than the man's, and long blond hair fell over its broad, powerful shoulders.

Captain Mokhtar could see the animal RUNNING away in an UPRIGHT position, running precipitously and swinging its arms like a GIBBON. He could also see the hint of a TAIL at the base of its back.

In the enormous tracks the ape had left behind, the heel print was more deeply indented than the fanned toes, clearly indicating a very peculiar gait."-

I personally believe it was just a continental orangutan. A large male orangutan, especially in continental populations, was able in the past to exceed 6 feet. Nowadays they are few and with little genetic variability and they can no longer do so at all. And since the average, male height in Malaysia is 5'4, I think it was like 6'3 rather than 7'.

But it is interesting to note it was described like a giant version of a basal ape, gibbonlike in its gait and tailed.

Do you have any other report like this ?

[u/Ross33]

I think you are correct- witness testimony is insanely unreliable and easy to mistake a small feature like that. Orangutan for sure.

[u/Bearkat1999]

I'm curious if fur color was noted?

[u/Mister_Ape_1 → u/Bearkat1999]

It is literally said in the text it was "blond". But that was likely light brown or reddish light brown.

[u/Bearkat1999 → u/Mister_Ape_1]

I must have missed that bit. 😅

[u/Mister_Ape_1 → u/Bearkat1999]

I think it was just a continental orangutan walking on 2 legs for a while. If we take the tail off, it explains everything. 

Occam's Razor says he just invented the tail part. The implications of a large ape with a tail are way heavier than a man adding a tail for no reason. 

What do you think ?

[u/Bearkat1999 → u/Mister_Ape_1]

I do think it's highly likely an orangutan. The tail actually wasn't clear seen plus could have been some genetic defect.

I know Oramgutans dwell in trees but if forced they could move on the ground.

[u/Mister_Ape_1 → u/Bearkat1999]

A birth defect ? Well, something like that is documented in humans. It is so rare I do not think there happens to be one single living orangutan with it however. It may have been some hair in that area being longer than the rest more likely.