Our Two Closest Relatives
Bonobos and Chimpanzees are BOTH our closest relatives
Both species are members of the "chimpanzee" genus Pan and both represent our species closest living relative. How can humans have two closest relatives? Similar to how two aunts or cousins are different from one another but equal in their genetic relation to you.
Bonobos and Chimpanzees both share close to 98% of their genome in common with humans, meaning that their genomes are more similar to that of humans than they are to that of gorillas. Surprise! Even though they appear to be more similar to gorillas they are more closely related to us.
Our two closest relatives are also different from each other
Even though the two species are equally related to humans, the two species differ from each other in important ways that can help us understand our own species evolution. Bonobos and chimpanzees diverged from each other < 1 million years ago and differ significantly in morphology, behavior, emotions and cognition.
The Bonobo
Bonobos are female dominant, with females forming tight bonds against males through same-sex socio-sexual contact that is thought to limit aggression. In the wild, they have not been seen to cooperatively hunt, use tools, or exhibit lethal aggression.
The Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are male dominant, with intense aggression between different groups that can be lethal. Chimpanzees use tools, cooperatively hunt monkeys, and will even eat the infants of other chimpanzee groups.
Below is a detailed comparison of the two species
| BONOBOS | CHIMPANZEES | |
|---|---|---|
| Genus |
Pan paniscus |
Pan troglodytes |
|
Morphology |
slender build, bright pink lips, black face, smaller and juvenilzed brain case in males |
robust build, face color changes with age, dark lips |
|
Natural Distribution |
only endemic to Democratic Republic of Congo in Congo Basin south of the Congo River (no subspecies) |
only found North of Congo River in Democratic Republic of Congo with three subspecies distributed across East, Central and West Africa in over 12 countries |
|
Sexual Dimorphism |
less sexual dimorphism |
more sexual dimorphism |
|
Social Organization |
fission-fusion societies: - typically larger daily party size than chimpanzees |
fission-fusion societies: - live in 'communities' of multiple males and females and their offspring |
|
Vocalization |
- higher pitched |
- lower pitched |
|
Dominance Hierarchy |
- females form strong bonds with weak hierarchy and in coalitions can dominate males |
linear set of relationships among all males which includes a clear alpha-male (or coalition of males) |
|
Group Hunting |
extremely rare, if ever |
frequent in times of abundant fruit, when multiple chimpanzee males and red Colobus monkeys plentiful |
|
Territoriality |
- no evidence of lethal aggression in defending home ranges |
- specific territories |
|
Tool Use |
only frequently seen in captivity |
cultural variation exists that is transmitted through social learning, compared to other animals relatively complex nut cracking, ant fishing, leaf clipping & medicinal plant use observed |
|
Sexual Behavior |
- frequent non-reproductive sexual behavior observed at all ages and between all partner types |
- very little sexual behavior observed in adults outside of reproductive contexts |
|
Threats |
hunting, snares, habitat destruction, infectious diseases |
hunting, snares, habitat destruction, infectious diseases |