Pedro Mocho
Profile
Research Group: RG2 – Ocean, coastal and land surface processes
Position at IDL: Grant Researcher/Postdoctoral Researcher
Job: Junior Researcher/Post-Doctoral Researcher
Email: pdmocho@fc.ul.pt
Academic Degree and field of specialization:
Since 2019: Junior Researcher in the Instituto Dom Luiz, FCUL (funded by the FCT, in the CEEC 2017)
2016-2018: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
2016: Ph.D in Biología y Ciencias de la Alimentación, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) – (International Ph.D)
2012: M.Sc. in Biodiversidad, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) – 2012
2010: B.Sc in Geologia e Recursos Naturais, Faculdade de Ciência da Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal) – 2010
Associate Researcher from Grupo de Biología Evolutiva UNED (Spain)
Associate Researcher from Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (CA, USA)
Researcher from the Sociedade de História Natural (Torres Vedras, Portugal)
Scientific Informations
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3348-5572
SCOPUS ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56040806900
Researcher ID: https://publons.com/researcher/1803458/pedro-mocho/
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pedro_Mocho
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.pt/citations?user=VyOgn1sAAAAJ
Website: https://twitter.com/PD_Mocho
Scientific Interests
Main Interests:
My research started to be focused on the evolutionary history of sauropod dinosaurs, in particular the phylogenetic context of the Upper Jurassic sauropods of the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and North America (USA). I have been working since 2012 on the systematics and paleobiology of the sauropods from the “Gnatalie” quarry (Upper Jurassic, Utah) and from the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness (Upper Cretaceous, New Mexico). Now, as a Junior Researcher in the Instituto Dom Luiz, FCUL, i am studying the evolutionary history of sauropods from the Iberian Peninsula, using cladistic analyses. This research is mainly focused on the evolution of Titanosauriformes during the Early and Upper Cretaceous, including new research on several forms from Spain, North America, and Africa. I am also studying Middle Jurassic sauropods from Africa.
I am collaborating in several studies on sauropod paleobiology (paleohistology, morphometric and morphofuctional analyses); theropod, ornithischian and turtle systematics; and paleontological conservation and heritage.
I also collaborates on different paleontological research and outreach projects in Spain, Portugal, and the United States. My research have taken me on several national and international expeditions in Western Portugal, Spain, Utah and New Mexico (USA) and Brazil. I am collaborating with the Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, UNED (Spain) and Sociedade de História Natural (Torres Vedras, Portugal). I have taught in Spain at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Taller de Empleo de Restauración Paleontológica de Lo Hueco. I have been promoted scientific dissemination developing outreach activities including the generation of museographic contents for permanent and temporary exhibitions in several museums (e.g. Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Japan; Museo de Paleontología de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain; Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Portugal); and also have participated in some invited lectures, articles for the general public in newspapers, books, magazines, and TV documentaries.
Top 10 Publications:
[1] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Ortega F. 2019. A new macronarian sauropod from the Upper Jurassic of Po rtugal. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e1578782-4. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1578782
[2] Mocho P, Pérez-García A, Martín Jiménez M, Ortega F. 2019. New remains from the Spanish Cenomanian shade light on the Gondwanan origin of European Early Cretaceous titanosaurs. Cretaceous Research, 95, 164-190. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.09.016
[3] Malafaia E, Mocho P, Escaso F, Dantas P, Ortega F. 2019. Carcharodontosaurian remains (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal. Journal of Paleontology, 93, 157-172. doi: 10.1017/jpa.2018.47
[4] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Escaso F, Malafaia E, de Miguel Chaves C, Narváez I, Pérez-García A, Pimentel N, Silva BC, Ortega F. 2017. Upper Jurassic sauropod record in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal): Geographical and lithostratigraphical distribution. Palaeontologia Electronica 20.2.27A: 1-50. doi: http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2017/1856-portuguese-sauropods.
[5] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Malafaia E, Escaso F, Ortega F. 2017. Sauropod tooth morphotypes from the Upper Jurassic of the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal). Papers in Palaeontology 3: 259-295. doi: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1075/full.
[6] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Ortega F. 2017. New data of the Portuguese brachiosaurid Lusotitan atalaiensis (Sobral Formation, Upper Jurassic). Historical Biology 29: 789-817. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2016.1247447.
[7] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Malafaia E, Escaso F, Narváez I, Ortega F. 2017. New data on Late Jurassic sauropods of central and northern sectors of the Bombarral Sub-basin (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal). Historical Biology. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2015.1137912.
[8] Díez Díaz V, Mocho P, Páramo A, Escaso F, Marcos-Fernández F, Sanz JL, Ortega F. 2016. A new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Lo Hueco (Cuenca, Spain). Cretaceous Research, 68: 49-60. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2016.08.001.
[9] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Malafaia E, Escaso F, Silva B, Ortega F. 2016. Turiasauria-like teeth from the Upper Jurassic of the Lusitanian Basin, Portugal. Historical Biology, 28: 861-880. doi: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912963.2015.1049948?journalCode=ghbi20
[10] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Ortega F. 2014. Phylogenetic reassessment of Lourinhasaurus alenquerensis, a basal Macronaria (Sauropoda) from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal. Zoological Journal of Linnean Society 170(4): 875-916. doi: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zoj.12113/full.
Projects (10 most relevant):
[1] “Nuevos conceptos y herramientas de análisis para el estudio del paleoecosistema de Lo Hueco (Cretácico Superior. Fuentes, Cuenca)” – CGL2015-68363-P (88.200,00 €); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain), Funding institution: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Madrid, Spain); Role in the project: Team member; Beginning date to end date: 01/01/2016-31/12/2018
[2] “Análisis de la anatomía cervical de los titanosaurios del Cretácico Superior de “Lo Hueco”, Fuentes (Cuenca)” – SBPLY/18/180801/000065 (19.549,62 €); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain); Funding institution: Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo, Castilla-la Mancha, Spain); Role in the project: Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 10/2018
[3] “Análisis de la anatomía pélvica de los titanosaurios del Cretácico Superior de Lo Hueco (Fuentes, Cuenca)” – SBPLY/17/ 180801/000063 (22.918,46 €); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain); Funding institution: Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo, Castilla-la Mancha, Spain); Role in the project: Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 06/2017-07/2017
[4] “Análisis del esqueleto caudal de titanosaurios del Cretácico Superior de Lo Hueco Scope of the grant: Fundamental Research” – SBPLY/16/180801/000017 (13.711,68 €); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain); Funding institution: Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo, Castilla-la Mancha, Spain); Role in the project: Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 31/10/2016-21/11/2016
[5] “Systematic revision of Spinophorosaurus. Skull anatomy: new perspectives about basal eusauropod phylogeny” – DE-TAF-6138 (3.750,94 €), Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, MfN (Germany); Funding institution: SYNTHESYS project under the EU FPVII Framework; Role in the project: Leader Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 22/05/2016-04/06/2016
[6] “Systematic revision of Spinophorosaurus and Middle Jurassic basal eusauropods of North and South Gondwana” – FR-TAF 5072 (3.910,00 €); Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (France); Funding institution: European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 Integrating Activities Programme; Role in the project: Leader Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 22/11/2015-15/12/2015
[7] “Caracterización anatómica del esqueleto axial de los dinosaurios titanosaurios del Cretácico Superior de Lo Hueco (Fuentes, Cuenca).” – SBPLY/15/180601/000045 (10.183,62 €); Universidad Nacional de Educacíon a Distáncia, UNED, Spain; Funding institution: Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo, Castilla-la Mancha, Spain); Role in the project: Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 08/2015-10/2015
[8] “Análise e reclassificação de crânios de cetáceos do Miocénico português, Adiça, Península de Setúbal” – (1.900,00 €); Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa/Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Portugal; Funding institution: Universidade de Lisboa/Fundação Amadeu Dias, Portugal; Role in the project: Researcher; Beginning date to end date: 2009-2010
Books & Chapters (up to 10):
[1] Malafaia E, Mocho P, Escaso F, Dantas P, Pimentel N, Ortega F. 2017. The Andrés Fossil Site: Upper Jurassic Continental Ecosystem, pp. 17-25. In: Barrios de Pedro S, Blanco Moreno C, de Celis A, Colmenar J, Cuesta C, García Martínez D, Gascó F, Jacinto A, Malafaia E, Martín Jiménez M, de Miguel Chaves C, Mocho P, Pais V, Parámo Blázquez A, Pereira S, Serrano Martínez A, Vidal D (eds.), XV EJIP – Meeting Of Young Researchers in Paleontology – Field-Trip Guide, Guia de Campo do XV Encontro de Jovens Investigadores em Paleontologia.
[2] Barrios de Pedro S, Blanco Moreno C, de Celis A, Colmenar J, Cuesta C, García Martínez D, Gascó F, Jacinto A, Malafaia E, Martín Jiménez M, de Miguel Chaves C, Mocho P, Pais V, Parámo Blázquez A, Pereira S, Serrano Martínez A, Vidal D. 2017. A Glimpse of the Past. Abstract book of the XV Encuentro de Jóvenes Investigadores en Paleontología/ XV Encontro de Jovens Investigadores em Paleontologia, pp. 428. ISBN: 978-1-36-614005-0
[3] Sanz JL, Ortega F, Shibata M, Cuesta E, Martín AE, Escaso F, Fregenal, MA, Marcos F, Martín H, Miguel Chaves C de, Mocho P, Narváez I, Páramo A, Pérez-García A. 2015. Dinosaurios maravillosos de Cuenca. Diputación provincial de Cuenca. Cuenca, 160 pp. ISBN 978-84-16161-53-9
[4] Sanz JL, Ortega F, Shibata M, Cuesta E, Martín H, Mocho P, Escaso F, Narváez I, Marcos F, Fregenal MA, Pérez-García A, Fuertes R, Banderas P, Goto M, Ichishima H, Terada K, Sonoda T, Yukawa H (cooperators). 2014. Miracle Dinosaurs from Spain. Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. 156 pp [in japanese].
Conferences (last 15 presentations):
[1] Ortega F, Escaso F, Mocho P, Narváez I, Pérez-García A. 2019. Eggs and bones: a preliminary comparison between the Upper Cretaceous faunas of the Poyos, Portilla and Lo Hueco sites (Villalba de la Sierra Formation. Central Spain). X Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología
[2] Mocho P, Ortega F. 2018. Late Cretaceous titanosaurs of the Ibero-Armorican Domain, a systematic overview and new data from the Lo Hueco Fossil Site, pp. 145. In: Crespo V, Manzanares E, Marquina-Blasco R, Suñer M, Herráiz JL, Gamonal A, Arnal FAM, Ferrón HG, Gascó F, Martínez-Pérez C (eds), Ist Palaeontological Virtual Congress. Book of abstracts. Palaeontology in the virtual era.
[3] Mocho P, Chiappe L. 2018. New camarasaurids specimen from the Gnatalie quarry in the Southerm Utah (Morrison Formation, U.S.A.), p.184. In: Farke A, MacKenzie A, Miller-Camp J. (Eds.), Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Octobre 2018, Abstracts of Papers, 78th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque Convention Center Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A., October 17–20, 2018, 184.
[4] Ortega F, Mocho P, Escaso F, Marcos-Fernández F, Narváez I, Páramo A, Pérez-García A, Vidal D. 2018. Lo Hueco (Cretácico Superior. Fuentes, Cuenca): algunos datos sobre la variabilidad de los saurópodos titanosaurios europeos. In: Vaz N, Sá AA (Eds.), Yacimientos Paleontológicos excepcionales en la península ibérica: XXXIV Jornadas de Paleontología y IV Congreso Ibérico de Paleontología, Cuadernos del Museo Geominero, 27, 189-193, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España
[5] Mocho P, Escaso F, Marcos-Fernández F, Parámo A, Vidal D, Ortega F. 2018. The morphological variability on titanosaur caudal series from Lo Hueco: taxonomic diversity intra-specific variability of both?, p.126. In: Marzola M, Mateus O, Moreno-Azanza M (eds.). Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal June 26th-July 1st, 2018.
[6] Mocho P, Chiappe L. 2018. Diplodocines of the Gnatalie Quarry, a new bone-bed accumulation from Southern Utah (Morrison Fm., USA), p. 123. In: Marzola M, Mateus O, Moreno-Azanza M (eds.), Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal June 26th-July 1st, 2018.
[7] Mocho P, Vidal D, Aberasturi A, Kosma R, Ortega F. 2018. New information about the appendicular skeleton of Spinophorosaurus nigerensis (Middle Jurassic, Niger), p.124. In: Marzola M, Mateus O, Moreno-Azanza M (eds.), Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal June 26th-July 1st, 2018.
[8] Mocho P, Royo-Torres R, Ortega F. 2018. Late Jurassic sauropods of Portugal: where are we now?. In: Marzola, M, Mateus, O, Moreno-Azanza, M (eds.) Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal June 26th-July 1st, 2018, 125.
[9] Páramo A, Mocho P, Ortega F, Sanz JL. 2018. Intraspecific variability and its effects on systematic assessement of the titanosaurs from Lo Hueco (Late Cretaceous. Cuenca, Spain), p. 147. In: Marzola M, Mateus O, Moreno-Azanza M (Eds.), Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal June 26th-July 1st, 2018.
[10] Vidal D, Mocho P, Páramo A, Sanz JL, Ortega F. 2018. Variability of cervical intervertebral space, posture and range of motion: comparing sauropod and Giraffe ontogeny, p.182. In: Marzola M, Mateus O, Moreno-Azanza M (Eds.), Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal June 26th-July 1st, 2018.
Awards:
[2] 2016 – SYNTHESYS grant – DE-TAF-6138 (3,750.94 €), funded by SYNTHESYS project under the EU FPVII Framework
[3] 2016 – “International” PhD title in Biology and Alimentation Sciences by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
[4] 2016 – PhD in Biology and Alimentation Sciences with “Cum Laude” by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
[5] 2015 – SYNTHESYS grant – FR-TAF 5072 (3,910.00€), funded by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 Integrating Activities Programme.
[6] 2011 – PhD Fellow funded by SFRH/BD/68450/2010 PhD fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.
[7] 2010 – “Menção Honrosa por ter concluído a Licenciatura em Geologia entre os seis melhores alunos no ano 2010”, Departamento de Geologia da Faculdade Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa.
[8] 2010 – Award for best “Poster” of students in Paleontology in the VIII Congresso Nacional de Geologia, Sociedade Geológica de Portugal/Universidade do Minho.