Dr Mohammed H. Al Riaydh, a faculty member in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Faculty of Science, University of Benghazi, participated in the 10th Conference of the East African Association for Palaeoanthropology and Palaeontology (EAAPP 2026), held in Kenya from 26 to 30 July 2026.
The conference brought together leading researchers and specialists in palaeontology and palaeoanthropology from around the world.
The University’s participation reflects its commitment to expanding its presence at international scientific forums, developing research partnerships with academic institutions worldwide, and supporting the Neogene Research Project on vertebrate fossils and geology in the Jabal Zaltan and As-Sahabi regions.
The project is a leading international research initiative dedicated to documenting Libya’s geological history and ancient biodiversity.
During the conference, Dr Al Riaydh, in collaboration with Dr Gildas Merceron of the University of Poitiers in France, presented a research paper entitled:
“Dietary Ecology of the Late Miocene–Pliocene Anthracothere Libycosaurus from As-Sahabi (Libya): Insights from Mesowear and Stable Carbon Isotopes.”
The study reconstructed the dietary ecology of the extinct Libycosaurus from the As-Sahabi region by combining dental mesowear analysis with stable carbon isotope analysis.
The research examined the animal’s diet and the environments it inhabited during the Late Miocene and Pliocene epochs, providing deeper scientific insight into the evolution of ancient ecosystems in North Africa. The findings are expected to be published soon in an international scientific journal indexed in Scopus.
The study received considerable recognition from participating researchers and experts for its significant findings and contribution to understanding Africa’s ancient environments. It also opened new opportunities for research collaboration with international institutions specialising in palaeontology and palaeoanthropology.
The University of Benghazi was the only academic institution from North Africa represented at the conference. This achievement reflects the University’s advanced scientific standing, its growing international research presence, and its contribution to specialised studies on the history of life and the evolution of ancient environments across Africa.
Following the conference, Dr Al Riaydh and the Department of Earth Sciences expressed their sincere appreciation to the President of the University of Benghazi, the Vice-President for Scientific Affairs, and the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Science for their continued support of scientific research and for enabling faculty members to participate in international conferences and academic events.
This support advances the University’s academic standing and reflects its commitment to excellence and active engagement with the global scientific community.
