An updated overview on the extinction of Oreopithecus bambolii

Oreopithecus bambolii, the large-bodied endemic ape that lived in the Tusco-Sardinian bioprovince during the Late Miocene (ca. 8.2-6.7 Ma; Turolian), has been for more than half a century, and despite being one of the most complete hominoids in the fossil record, the focus of great controversy over its phylogenetic status, postural/locomotor behaviour, and extinction in an insular context. In reference to the latter issue, O. bambolii went extinct at ca. 6.7 Ma, being the last hominoid to survive in Europe, but it has remained unresolved —primarily because its environmental context and ecological needs have not been until recently clearly investigated— as to whether its extinction was due to a marked shift in climate and environments or, instead, to intensive interaction with an invading faunal complex from mainland Italy. The present work seeks to review the main hypotheses that there have been proposed to determine Oreopithecus’ extinction and, in the light of recent data, to reevaluate the most viable explanation for its disappearance. Multiple lines of evidence have reported the existence of a shift in climate throughout the Baccinello-Cinigiano sequence. However, recent views showed that although environmental shifts did indeed take place, the floral composition spanning the extinction event (level V3; 6.7-6.4 Ma) was similar to that of previous ecosystems (level V1; 8.3-8.1 Ma) inhabited by Oreopithecus. Moreover, its dietary versatility —wider than previously thought— was very likely an integral part of adaptations of Oreopithecus to cope with changes in the habitats under which it lived. Collectively, this suggests that the environmental change, even though it did indeed take place, was not significant enough to deeply affect Oreopithecus’ lifestyle. Hence, faunal interaction (both competition and predation) with invading species can be considered as the most feasible explanation for the decline and disappearance of O. bambolii and associated fauna.