Crickette Sanz

Crickette Sanz

Professor of Biological Anthropology
James W. and Jean L. Davis Professor in Arts and Sciences
PhD, Washington University in St. Louis

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  • Washington University
    CB 1114
    One Brookings Drive
    St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

Professor Sanz’ research focuses on understanding the factors which have led to the emergence and promoted the maintenance of behavioral diversity in primates. She is particularly interested in the variation of social organization and material culture that has been documented among wild chimpanzee populations.

Her research involves field studies and collaborative projects to examine instraspecific variation in the behavioral ecology of wild chimpanzees.

As co-principal investigators of the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project in northern Republic of Congo, David Morgan and Sanz are conducting field studies to examine the behavioral ecology of the central subspecies of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes), the social and ecological factors shaping their complex tool using traditions, and the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on sympatric chimpanzees and gorillas. These studies hold important insights for elucidating the role of ultimate and proximate forces in primate evolutionary history, which will aid in constructing valid models of human evolution from our closest living relatives.

Selected Publications

Blinkova, O., Victoria, J., Li, Y. Y., Keele, B. F., Sanz, C., Ndjango, J. B. N., Peeters, M., Travis, D., Lonsdorf, E. V., Wilson, M. L., Pusey, A. E., Hahn, B. H. Delwart, E. L. 2010. Novel circular DNA viruses in stool samples of wild-living chimpanzees. Journal of General Virology 91: 74-86.

Neel, C., Etienne, L., Li, Y. Y., Takehisa, J., Rudicell, R. S., Bass, I. N., Moudindo, J., Mebenga, A., Esteban, A., Van Heuverswyn, F., Liegeois, F., Kranzusch, P. J., Walsh, P. D., Sanz, C. M., Morgan, D. B., Ndjango, J. B. N., Plantier, J. C., Locatelli, S., Gonder, M. K., Leendertz, F. H., Boesch, C., Todd, A., Delaporte, E., Mpoudi-Ngole, E., Hahn, B. H. Peeters, M. 2010. Molecular epidemiology of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus infection in wild-living gorillas. Journal of Virology 84(3): 1464-1476.

Sanz, C., Call, J., Morgan, D. 2009. Design complexity in termite-fishing tools of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Biology Letters 5: 293-296.

Sanz, C., Morgan, D. 2009. Flexible and persistent tool-using strategies in honey-gathering by wild chimpanzees. International Journal of Primatology 30: 411-427.

Sanz, C., Schöning, C. Morgan, D. 2009. Chimpanzees prey on army ants with specialized tool set. American Journal of Primatology 71:1-8.

Devos, C., Sanz, C., Morgan, D., Onononga, J. R., Laporte, N., Huynen, M. C. 2008. Comparing ape densities in Northern Congo: Surveys of sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees in the Ndoki and Odzala Regions. American Journal of Primatology 70: 1-13.

Liu, W., Worobey, M., Li1, Y., Keele, B. F., Bibollet-Ruche, F., Guo, Y., Goepfert, P. A., Santiago, M. L., Ndjango, J. N., Neel, C., Clifford, S. L., Sanz, C., Kamenya, S., Wilson, M. L., Pusey, A. E., Gross-Camp, N., Boesch, C., Smith, V., Zamma, K., Huffman, M. A., Mitani, J. C., Watts, D. P., Peeters, M., Shaw, G. M., Switzer, W. M., Sharp, P. M., Hahn, B. H. 2008. Molecular ecology and natural history of simian foamy virus infection in wild-living chimpanzees. PLoS Pathogens 4(7): e1000097.

Morgan, D., Sanz, C. 2007. Best Practice Guidelines for Reducing the Impact of Commercial Logging on Wild Apes in West Equatorial Africa. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG). 32 pp.

Sanz, C., Morgan, D., Strindberg, S., Onononga, J. R. 2007. Distinguishing between the nests of sympatric chimpanzees and gorillas in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. Journal of Applied Ecology 44: 263-272.

Sanz, C., Morgan, D. 2007. Chimpanzee tool technology in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. Journal of Human Evolution 52(4): 420-433.

Walsh, P. D., Breuer, T., Sanz, C., Morgan, D., Doran-Sheehy, D. 2007. Potential for Ebola transmission between gorilla and chimpanzee social groups. American Naturalist 169(5): 684-689.

Morgan, D., Sanz, C. 2006. Chimpanzee feeding ecology and comparisons with sympatric gorillas in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. In G. Hohmann, M. Robbins, and C. Boesch Primate Feeding Ecology in Apes and Other Primates: Ecological, Physiological, and Behavioural Aspects, pp. 97-122.

Morgan, D., Sanz, C., Onononga, J. R., Strindberg, S. 2006.Ape abundance and habitat use in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. International Journal of Primatology 27(1): 147-179.

Tutin, C. E. G., Stokes, E., Boesch, C., Walsh, P., Morgan, D., Sanz, C., Blake, S., Kormos, R. 2005. Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa. Conservation International.

Sanz, C., Morgan, D., Gulick, S. 2004. New insights into chimpanzees, tools, and termites from the Congo Basin. American Naturalist 164: 567-581.

Morgan, D., Sanz, C. 2003. Naïve encounters with chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. International Journal of Primatology 24(2): 369-381.

in the news:

Sanz installed as the James W. and Jean L. Davis Professor in Arts and Sciences

WashU great ape, biodiversity research informs decision to expand Congolese park

Study reports first evidence of social relationships between chimpanzees, gorillas

AAAS names seven Arts & Sciences faculty as 2021 fellows

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