Oreopithecus bambolii

MOLECULAR-BASED PHYLOGENY OF OREOPITHECUS BAMBOLII

Similarly, since the time of its first description, the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of the large-bodied hominoid Oreopithecus bambolii, have represented some of the most controversial issues in palaeoprimatology. Oreopithecus evolved under insularity conditions on the Tusco-Sardinian paleobioprovince, surviving there until 7.0–6.5 Ma and being the last European ape to become extinct. Although today Oreopithecus is broadly accepted as a hominoid, its unique mosaic of modern hominid derived features with apparently more primitive features and evolutionary convergences with both bipedal hominins and cercopithecid monkeys make its phylogenetic position most uncertain. As a result of this unique combination of morphological features, Oreopithecus is still considered an “enigmatic anthropoid”, with some researchers arguing that it represents a derived great ape that originated from European dryopithecines, and others arguing that it is a late survivor of the African nyanzapithecine lineage.

Just like in the previous case, by clarifying the phylogenetic position of O. bambolii and its relations with the Dryopithecinae from Spain, PROJECT 2 will provide an extremely innovative contribution to the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of hominoids during the Late Miocene in Southern Europe and further contribute to resolving the evolutionary history of the group as a whole.