The Similarities Between Bonobos And Chimpanzees

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The Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the Bonobo (Pan paniscus) share many similar traits and characteristics but also vary greatly in certain aspects. Tucked away in the jungles of central Africa, Bonobos and Chimpanzees live geographically isolated from one another. This is likely why the two species have developed distinct social behaviors and physical traits from each other. Having a shared common ancestor, the two primates do have a lot in common. They share much of the same genes and are often indistinguishable to the untrained eye. The distinction between Bonobos and Chimpanzees becomes most apparent when one observes the social behaviors of the two species. Chimpanzees live in a patriarchal society with an aggressive alpha male as …show more content…

According to Bonobo researcher Takayoshi Kano, mothers are “the core of bonobo society, holding the group together” (Raffaele, 2006). Mothers and their children will stay together for their entire lives. Offspring are born into the social class of their mothers. Offspring of respected females enjoy the same privileges as their mother. However, when the mother passes away, her offspring are left to fend for themselves. They start from the bottom of society and must earn their way back up to the top on their …show more content…

It is also known that the two species do not reproduce and raise their young in the same way. In chimpanzee society, infanticide is common. Infanticide is “the killing of offspring unrelated to a male chimpanzee” (Parish, Wrangham). However, because bonobos are so sexually active with almost all members of their tribe, clear lines of paternity become blurred. Without paternity, infanticide is eliminated. This is “a huge evolutionary advantage for female bonobos, because more of their offspring will survive” (Parish, Wrangham). Bonobo young are raised in much more of a group setting than chimpanzees. The strong bond between bonobo females allows for them to share responsibilities for raising offspring with the whole group. In chimpanzee societies, females “disperse into the forest with their infants to find enough food to eat” and do not spend large amounts of time with other females (Parish,

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