Species is a complex term, and is not as simple as one might think. A biological species can be defined as members of populations that actually or potentially interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring. The concept of biological species has nothing to do with the similarity of appearance, and is a useful concept to keep in mind when looking at the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the pygmy chimpanzee or bonobo (Pan paniscus), which are considered to be the two living species of chimpanzees today. These two species are great apes belong to the genus Pan, and can only be found in the West and Central Africa. There is a range of evidence that supports the existence of two distinct species, including genetic, behavioural and physical. paniscus and P. troglodytes provides evidence supporting the existence of two distinct species. The P. paniscus are smaller and leaner than chimps with black faces and pink lips, while the P. troglodytes are stockier and taller with brown lips and their faces change colour with age. The P. paniscus also has longer head hair that parts slightly down the middle (Boesch, Hohmann, & Marchant, 2002). The skeletal dimensions of each species were compared and significant differences were found in the clavicles, scapulae, pelvises, and in the humerus/femur and femur head/length ratios (Zihlman & Cramer, 1978). These difference show that the P. paniscus and P. troglodytes are physical different, supporting the existence of two distinct species. The physical difference between the two species could be linked to the difference in the habitats of each species, the P. troglodytes spend a lot of their time in the trees, and the P. troglodytes sleeps in the trees, while the P. paniscus spend their time on the
What separates on species from another are reproductive isolating mechanism (RIMs). RIMs can pre-zygotic and post-zygotic meaning they act before fertilisation and after fertilisation. Pre-zygotic RIMs include temporal isolation, behavioural isolation, ecological isolation and mechanical isolation. Post-zygotic RIMs include gametic incompatibility, zygotic mortality, and hybrid sterility just to name a few. The P. paniscus and P. troglodytes show behavioural isolation. The P. paniscus and the P. troglodytes both have different behavioural traits that would separate the species and work as reproductive isolating mechanisms (Boesch, Hohmann, & Marchant, 2002). They also show ecological isolation because they are separated by the Congo River as well as the P. troglodytes spends most of its time in the trees, their habitats do not cross over. This is supported by the research looking at the mitochondria DNA of the P. paniscus populations separated by rivers (Eriksson, Hohmann, Boesch, & Vigilant,
Crickett Sanz, Dave Morgan, & Steve Gulick. "New Insights into Chimpanzees, Tools, and Termites from the Congo Basin." The American Naturalist 164.5 (2004): 56-581. Article. 25 April 2014.
They have wide chests and their arms are longer than their legs. Chimpanzees’ hands have four long fingers plus an opposable thumb. Their feet have five toes which includes an opposable big toe. Chimpanzees’ can grasp things with both their hands and their feet. Male chimpanzees are larger than female chimpanzees and are slightly sexually dimorphic. Chimpanzees are quadrupeds that typically walk using the soles of feet and the knuckles of their hands. They sometimes walk upright only when they need to use their arms to carry things but this is a rare occurrence. Chimps are also good at brachiating and climbing trees which is where they spend most of their time even when they sleep. Their dental formula is 2.1.2.3. Chimpanzees’ have y5/x4 molars, making them frugivores, and a diastema to fit their upper canines. Their diet includes fruit, leaves, flowers, seeds, smaller mammals, birds, insects, and grubs. When chimps aren’t resting, they can be very active. I enjoyed watching the Chimpanzees’ swing on the ropes and climb up and down the trees. Chimpanzees are
New technologies and advancement in the area of field research has allowed biologist and primatologist to analyze information more effectively and efficiently. Through the non-invasive collection of fecal samples, researchers are able to extract and analyze DNA to help determine individual attribute, as well as population dynamics. In addition to DNA, fecal samples also contain hormones and parasites that help in determining the overall health of the depositor (Newton-Fisher NE, 2010). Other technologies include the use of Geographic Information Systems allows for mapping the ranges of chimpanzees, and satellite imagery is used to view the deforestation of select areas (Goodall, 2002).
Primates, any placental mammal of the order Primates, normally having flexible hands and feet and, in the higher apes, a highly developed brain (“Primate”, 2016), have been one of the most popular animals and prominent attractions in zoos.
The species A. afarensis is one of the better known australopithecines, with regards to the number of samples attributed to the species. From speculations about their close relatives, the gorilla and chimpanzee, A. afarensis’ probable social structure can be presumed. The species was named by Johanson and Taieb in 1973. This discovery of a skeleton lead to a heated debate over the validity of the species. The species eventually was accepted by most researchers as a new species of australopithecine and a likely candidate for a human ancestor.
The proponents of the separate species hypothesis believe that they had a common ancestor, but Neanderthals and modern humans were separate species. They argue that the Neanderthal line was a dead end, and that for some reason Homo sapiens thrived while they went extinct.
I observed chimpanzees in the Kimberly-Clark Chimpanzee Forest exhibit at the Dallas zoo. These African apes, like humans, are hominoids and fall into the larger category of catarrhines. Their scientific classification is Pan troglodytes. There were about ten chimpanzees in that habitat. Most of them were grown adults, except two children. They were robust and had black fur. The average weight of the chimps was listed on a display to be about 115 pounds.
The idea that humans could possibly have evolved from apes was thought impossible until about 150 years. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contribution to evolutionary theory, stated “humans evolved from an apelike ancestor” (1). Still after Darwin’s theories, many people still doubted the chances of this being true. Just in the past decade have scientists reached a general agreement about the evolutionary relationships between humans and apes. DNA evidence indicates that chimps and bonobos are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas! Technically humans are a kind of great ape, and that is why throughout the article Smuts will refer to apes as forest apes.
The first group of primates was the Ardipithecus group. They were the earliest humans closely related to other primates. The Ardipithecus group evolved in Africa and took the first step upright on two feet. Sahelanthropus tchadensis was the first human species to ever walk the earth. They were the building block of more complex species to come. There were many species that started the human race such as the Orrorin tugenensis. This species was nicknamed the Millenium Man and live 5.8-6.2 million years a...
Using the “Linnaean system of classifying organisms, people and apes are common members of the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Primates, suborder (or infraorder) Anthropoidea, and superfamily Hominoidea” (Tuttle 15). Imagine going to the zoo and seeing chimpanzees for the first time. One may notice things such as similar hands with opposable thumbs, the ability the walk on two legs and even the face itself. Watching different shows on the Discover Channel or even Animal Planet images of chimpanzees and primates living together in rich social groups with its own hierarchy. Much like humans in our cliques and with our hierarchy. Going back to Linnaean system were in the same animal kingdom as which brings me to the genetic attributes that we share. “The amount of difference in DNA is a test of the difference between one species and another – and thus how closely or distantly related they are… While the genetic difference between individual humans today is minuscule – about 0.1%, on average – study of the same aspects of the chimpanzee genome indicates a difference of about 1.2%” (http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics). A one percent difference is a stones
Works Cited Bates, D. (1957, December 17). Letter from Roy Wilkins. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America. Beals, M. P. (1994). The Species of the World.
Chimpanzees are part of the non-human primate group. Though we share a common ancestor, evolution has pushed us in different directions. However this common ancestor causes humans to be curious about these creatures. As discussed in Jane Goodall’s video Among the Wild Chimpanzees we were once considered to be human because of our use of tools but once we observed these non-human primates using tools, this perception was changed forever. The question now at hand is if having the chimpanzees that we study in captivity makes a difference between studying wild chimps. These interesting creatures can be found naturally in the rainforests of Africa.
Zacherl, Danielle. “Biology 171 Evolution and Biodiversity.” National Association of Research in Science Teaching 2007 Annual Meeting, New Orleans LA. (2007):n. page. Print.
The northern sparrows have adapted to a larger body than the southern sparrows, in order to survive lower temperatures. Along with these similarities, evolution and creation both acknowledge that apes and humans show resemblance. Evolution and creation both recognize the comparable characteristics that humans and apes acquire.
Chimpanzees are genetically more similar to humans than other animals, including the apes. They are noted as being 98-99% genetically identical to humans, which has been recently confirmed (NEAVS).