We share about 98.7 per centum of our desoxyribonucleic acid with bonobos like the buttock - pinchingly sweet baby above . pygmy chimpanzee arepretty much our cousin-german , but how well do we really jazz them ?
1. DON’T CALL THEM CHIMPS.
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Bonobos and chimpanzees are relate , but they are different species in the genusPan . Bonobos ( Pan paniscus)live south of the Congo River and chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes)live north , which suggests , investigator say , that the river ’s formationsplit one radical of apesinto two . bonobo have a moreslender buildthan Pan troglodytes ; black faces and pink backtalk ( for chimps , both features change coloration over time ) ; and less intimate dimorphism ( differences in appearance and size between males and females ) than chimpanzees .
2. THE WORDBONOBOIS MEANINGLESS.
Aside from being the apes ’ common name , the wordbonobohas no meaning . Researchers believe the hokum condition may be theresult of a misspellingon a shipping crateful headed for the bonobo hotspot of Bolobo , Zaire , in the 1920s .
3. THEY LIKE SEX. A LOT.
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Pan paniscusis an impressively randy mintage , and its member are n’t choosey . Any historic period or sex will do ; male / male and distaff / female pairings are just as common as female / male . They ’re tireless , too : Female bonobos abstract up with one another aboutonce every two hour . In addition to rub against each other , manly bonobos also seem to enjoy dangling from Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree whilepenis fencing .
4. ALL THAT SEX SERVES A PURPOSE.
Primatologists believe the bonobo have sex activity for three reasons : pleasure , soldering , and peacekeeping . Female adults dominate pygmy chimpanzee club , and some researcher say the unvarying humping is a way of life of reinforce social ties . But they also resort to sex in prison term of stress or crisis . When a group of bonobos encounter anew food source , another band of bonobos , or a job that necessitate cooperation , they do n’t freak out . They get freaky . scientist say the sex works to both defuse tension and inspire cooperation . It ’s kind of maven , really .
5. THEY’RE WIRED FOR EMPATHY.
In a famous 2011 experiment , scientists conducted brain CAT scan on both chimp and bonobos . They foundclear structural differences : The brain region link with empathy , noticing distress in others , and anxiety were all larger in Pan paniscus . pygmy chimpanzee also had a thicker connexion between the brain regions associated with aggressiveness and impulse ascendancy — a connexion that likely helps suppress antisocial behavior .
6. THEY’RE AN UNWITTING POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND.
A left - wing / correct - wing , bonobo / chimpanzee divide has formed , unbeknown to either species . Nonscientists on either side of the ideological water parting have magnificently used generalizations about pygmy chimpanzee behavior to advance their ideology , and media outlet seem to take acertain delightin deplume down the bonobos ’ ( undeserved ) angelic mental image . All primatologists likeFrans de Waalcan do is remind everyone tostick to the fact .
7. THEY’RE REALLY SMART.
Unsurprisingly , our bonobo cousins have passably impressive mind . A manly bonobo nominate Kanzi learned how touse a symbol - covered keyboardto communicate with researchers . When his steward kick in him primitive gemstone tools like those former humans would have used , Kanzi project out how to use them . One one social occasion , he also reportedly touched the symbol for “ marshmallow ” and “ stick by ” on his keyboard , then started a flame androasted his marshmallows .
