Origins and Evolution of Primatomorpha

Upper molars of the enigmatic North American primate *Ekgmowechashala* from the early Arikareean of Wildcat Ridge, Nebraska (A, B) and its close relative *Palaeohodites* from the late Eocene of the Baise Basin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (C, D). The distinctive structure of the “duplicated protocone,” among other features, support a close relationship between these taxa and imply an Asian origin for *Ekgmowechashala*, the last primate known from North America prior to the arrival of *Homo sapiens*.

In the Beard Lab, we are interested in reconstructing major phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic patterns in primate evolution. Current research focuses on the origins of several major clades, including euprimates and anthropoids. We are also interested in documenting how early Cenozoic Primatomorpha were impacted by episodic climate change and how “sweepstakes dispersal” across marine barriers frequently led to the colonization of new terranes, including Africa and Balkanatolia.