Molecular-Based Phylogeny of Oreopithecus Bambolii

My PhD Project

Oreopithecus bambolii was the last European ape. Taxonomic and phylogenetic status of Oreoputhecus is still an issue. 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.

The aim of my phd project is to clarify the phylogenetic position of Oreopithecus bambolii and its relations with the Dryopithecinae from Spain. Moreover the project will provide a 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.

Secondments

Secondment period of 4 months, during PhD year 1, at University of Copenhagen under Enrico Cappellini’s supervision to receive training, together with ESR3, on palaeoproteomic data generation and analysis. ESR2 will bring her Oreopithecus specimens to UCPH and will learn how to process them.