Our Primate Past

Lemur Discoveries, Fossils, and Conservation – Patricia Wright

How do you rediscover a species thought to be extinct, and help protect an entire rainforest at the same time? In this episode, we explore the remarkable career of Professor Patricia Wright, one of the most influential figures in lemur research and conservation. Professor Wright is a primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist best known for her groundbreaking work in Madagascar. She rediscovered the greater bamboo lemur (Hapalemur simus), once believed extinct, and discovered a new species, the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus). Her efforts were central to the creation of Ranomafana National Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. She also founded Centre ValBio, a leading research and education center focused on biodiversity conservation, scientific research, and community engagement in Madagascar. In this interview, Professor Wright discusses her career path and major discoveries, including fossil and subfossil lemurs, extinct Malagasy hippos, and Milne-Edwards’s sifakas. She explains what these finds reveal about lemur evolution and extinction, explores how and when humans first arrived on Madagascar, and reflects on the conservation challenges facing lemurs today. Another theme of the conversation is one of the great evolutionary puzzles, how did lemurs first reach Madagascar? Whether you’re interested in primate evolution, fieldwork in Madagascar, or the role of science in conservation, this episode offers a rare insight into both the biology of lemurs and the human stories behind their discovery and protection.

Origins of the Genus Homo – Brian Villmoare

Where did our genus Homo come from, and how confident are we about its earliest members? In this episode, we explore the fossil evidence for human origins with one of the researchers reshaping how we define our own genus. Dr Brian Villmoare is a paleoanthropologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, whose research focuses on the origins of Homo, hominin craniofacial evolution, and the African fossil record. He is best known for his work at Ledi-Geraru in Ethiopia, which has played a key role in redefining what the earliest members of our genus looked like and how, and when, they evolved. In this interview, Dr Villmoare shares his career journey and reflects on major figures who shaped paleoanthropology. He discusses what his research has found out about the emergence of Homo, how species boundaries are drawn in the fossil record, and how advances in biomechanics and analytical methods are improving our understanding of hominin cranial evolution. The conversation also covers fieldwork across eastern and southern Africa, the evolutionary relationships of Homo naledi and Homo floresiensis, debates over Neanderthal taxonomy, and the most underrated fossil sites for understanding human evolution. Dr Villmoare also talks about his book The Evolution of Everything and reflects on challenges surrounding fossil access, digital data, and resource sharing in paleoanthropology.

Loris Evolution, Venom, and Conservation – Anna Nekaris

How do slow lorises use venom, and what can these elusive primates tell us about evolution and conservation? In this episode of Our Primate Past, Anna Nekaris takes us inside the world of nocturnal primates, sharing her groundbreaking research and conservation work. Professor Anna Nekaris OBE is a leading primatologist and conservationist whose pioneering research focuses on lorises and other nocturnal primates. She is particularly renowned for her work on slow loris venom, its ecological and evolutionary significance, as well as her studies of loris behavior and sociality, naming new taxa, and dedication to conservation and public outreach. In this interview, Professor Nekaris shares her career journey, key research contributions, and perspectives on lorisoid evolution. She discusses the challenges of fieldwork on nocturnal species, the evolution of venom and the toothcomb, and how initiatives like the Little Fireface Project [https://www.nocturama.org/en/welcome-little-fireface-project/] are helping protect these elusive primates. Conservation challenges, including the pet trade and the impact of social media on loris welfare, are also explored.

Hominin Evolution and Taxonomy – Bernard Wood

How do scientists decide what counts as a species in the fossil record? And how certain can we really be about our evolutionary family tree? In this episode of Our Primate Past, paleoanthropologist Bernard Wood explores the evidence behind some of the most debated questions in human evolution. Professor Bernard Wood is a globally renowned paleoanthropologist whose work has reshaped how researchers classify hominin fossils and interpret evolutionary relationships. Over his career, he has redefined the boundaries of the genus Homo, made major contributions to our understanding of Paranthropus, and helped introduce rigorous phylogenetic methods into paleoanthropology. In this interview, Professor Wood reflects on his career and most influential research contributions. He discusses the challenges of defining species in the fossil record, the evolutionary significance of Paranthropus and its extreme dental adaptations, and how advances in morphology and phylogenetic analysis have transformed the study of human origins. Topics also include the controversial Sahelanthropus femur, what Homo naledi and Homo floresiensis suggest about hominin diversity, and ongoing debates about fossil access. Whether you are interested in human evolution, fossil interpretation, or how scientific classifications are built and revised, this episode offers a clear and thoughtful look inside one of paleoanthropology’s most influential careers.

Spinal Evolution and the Origins of Bipedalism – Catalina Villamil

Dr Catalina I. Villamil is a biological anthropologist whose research explores how the primate spine evolves and what it can tell us about the origins of bipedalism in humans. From living monkeys to fossil hominins, her work bridges genetics, anatomy, and evolution to explain how our backbone came to be. Dr Villamil is Associate Director of the Laboratory of Primate Morphology at the Caribbean Primate Research Center, where she studies the heritability and phenotypic integration of the primate vertebral column. Her research uses one of the world’s most important long-term primate populations, the Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques, to investigate how vertebral traits are inherited and constrained through evolution. In this interview, Dr Villamil shares her career path and key research contributions, including why Cayo Santiago is so valuable for evolutionary and biomedical research. She explains how vertebral morphology is measured and analysed, discusses insights from her work on gibbons and fossil hominins, and explores what hybridization can tell us about primate evolution. The conversation also turns to the evolution of upright walking, the anatomical foundations of bipedalism, and how vertebral variation shapes locomotion. She also reflects on her role as Associate Editor at the Journal of Human Evolution, the future of academic publishing, and the challenges and opportunities facing researchers today.