What river separates chimps and bonobos?

the Congo River
While investigating the genetic structure in wild bonobos,(1) we realized that the widely accepted scenario positing that the Pleistocene appearance of the Congo River separated the common ancestor of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (P.

What are bonobos in the Congo?

The bonobo (pan paniscus) is an endangered primate endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the local tradition of communities living around Salonga the bonobo holds a special place.

Do bonobos live in the Congo?

Wild bonobos can only be found in forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sometimes known as the pygmy chimpanzee, bonobos weren’t recognized as a separate species until 1929.

Are there chimpanzees in Congo?

Chimpanzees are widely distributed in 21 countries across Equatorial Africa, between 13°N and 7°S (Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Rep. of Congo, Dem.

What is the common ancestor of chimps and bonobos?

The chimpanzee–human last common ancestor (CHLCA) is the last common ancestor shared by the extant Homo (human) and Pan (chimpanzee and bonobo) genera of Hominini. Due to complex hybrid speciation, it is not possible to give a precise estimate on the age of this ancestral population.

Why did chimps and bonobos split?

Bonobos and chimpanzees diverged from a common ancestor between one million and two million years ago, after the formation of the Congo River separated one population of apes into two. Considering that neither species can swim, the two populations “might as well have been on different planets,” Hare says.

What is the difference between a bonobo and a chimpanzee?

Bonobos are graceful apes. Their long legs, narrow shoulders, and small head add up to a slender build. While chimps age into a darker face, bonobos are born with a darker face and pink lips. One of the biggest differences between our evolutionary relatives is that in bonobo society females are in charge.

Why is the bonobo important?

They play an important role as seed dispersers, which is critical for forest regeneration. They have been documented eating invertebrates and small vertebrates. If they eat meat, then it is usually opportunistic versus the result of an organized hunt.

What do bonobo look like?

The bonobo is distinguished by relatively long legs, pink lips, dark face, tail-tuft through adulthood, and parted long hair on its head. The bonobo is found in a 500,000 km2 (190,000 sq mi) area of the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa.

What are Congo chimps?

Congo (1954–1964) was a chimpanzee who learned how to draw and paint. By the age of four, Congo had made 400 drawings and paintings. His style has been described as “lyrical abstract impressionism”.

Which country has the most chimpanzees?

the Democratic Republic of Congo
Chimpanzees in the Wild The largest population, around 115,000, is found in the central region of Africa, which includes: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Gabon. Within these countries, chimpanzees can only be found in large tracts of virgin forests.

Did chimps evolve from bonobos?

Between 1.5 and 2 million years ago, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) evolved from a common ancestor and formed clear physical and behavioural differences. Socially, chimpanzees live in male-dominated groups, while bonobo society is female-dominated.

When did the bonobo and the chimpanzee diverge?

Chimpanzees and bonobos are sister species that diverged around 1.8 million years ago as the Congo River formed a geographic boundary and they evolved in separate environments.

Where are bonobos and chimpanzees found in Africa?

Populations of chimpanzees, also an endangered species, are found in a forested belt north of the Congo River and scattered in a few other areas of west and central Africa. Bonobos and chimpanzees closely resemble one another physically and they were not recognized as separate species until the 1930s.

Where are bonobos found in the DRC?

Sarah Kovalaskas, an Emory graduate student of anthropology, is first author of the paper. Before joining Emory she spent nine months in the field, studying the social development of juvenile bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Wild bonobos, an endangered species, are only found in forests south of the Congo River in the DRC.

Why are bonobos more aggressive than other chimpanzees?

Bonobos are also known for using sexual behaviors to defuse tension—including same-sex behaviors among females. Chimpanzees, however, tend to act more aggressively when encountering other chimpanzee groups and may even have violent exchanges that include fatalities.