Cercopithecine models as a contextual framework for human evolution

A major aim of this project was to compile a database of variation in modern African cercopithecine monkeys (baboons, mangabeys and guenons) to facilitate the construction of morphological and behavioural models for human evolution. Reconstruction of the evolutionary histories and palaeobiologies of extinct humans (hominins) requires comparative data from modern species, often primates. Although chimpanzees and gorillas are frequently used, Old World monkeys (particularly the cercopithecines) are also appropriate comparators.

本项目的主要目标是构建现代非洲猕猴亚科（Cercopithecinae）猴类（涵盖狒狒、白眉猴与长尾猴）的变异数据库，以支撑人类演化相关形态学与行为学模型的构建。对已灭绝古人类（人亚科Hominins）的演化历史及古生物学特征进行重建，需依托多取自灵长类的现代物种比较数据。尽管黑猩猩与大猩猩常被作为对比类群使用，但旧世界猴（尤其是猕猴亚科类群）同样为合适的参照对象。