Special Guest Seminar with Dr. Özge Kahya-Parildar

Dr. Özge Kahya-Parıldar is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Anatolian paleontology and paleoanthropology. Her research focuses primarily on the evolution, paleoecology, and biogeography of Late Miocene mammalian faunas in Anatolia, with particular emphasis on bovids and equids. Within the scope of systematic paleontology, she investigates the diversity of fossil mammals and their relationships with environmental changes.

The Late Miocene Bovidae Fauna of Cappadocia and Environmental Adaptations

This study aims to investigate the diversity of the Late Miocene Bovidae fauna of Anatolia and its paleoecological context. The research is based on the identification of fossil material and comparative morphological analyses within the framework of Systematic Paleontology. In particular, fossil specimens recovered from the Cappadocia region provide significant data regarding species diversity and morphological variation.

The findings indicate that bovids in Late Miocene Anatolia developed distinct ecological niches by adapting to different environmental conditions. Variations in dental and horn morphology offer important insights into feeding strategies and habitat preferences. These results demonstrate the impact of paleoenvironmental changes on faunal diversity in the region.

This research contributes to a better understanding of the Late Miocene ecosystems of Anatolia while also providing new perspectives on the evolution and dispersal of bovids. Furthermore, the study aims to establish a foundation for future interdisciplinary research