Bonobos
<p class="default">09:14 PM, February 19, 2007
 
Marvelous TV show: Nova
 
Bonobos; studied by Francis White (similar to Jane Goodall)
 
See Wiki article. DNA is 98% identical to homo sapiens. They are more closely related to humans than to gorillas.
Another study on the similarity of critical DNA sites in humans and Pan genes suggest they are 99.4 % identical.
 
Two speices of chimps: The genus is Pan. The Common Chimpanzee is Pan troglodyte (larger and more aggressive).
The Bonobo is the Pygmy Chimp (Pan paniscus). Pan species are our closest living relatives. Chimps and humans split off about 6 million years ago.
 
The species is distinguished by an upright gait, a  <u>matriarchal </wiki/Matriarchy></u> and  <u>egalitarian </wiki/Egalitarianism></u> culture, and the prominent role of  <u>sexual activity </wiki/Non-human_animal_sexuality></u> in their society.
 
 <u>Frans de Waal </wiki/Frans_de_Waal></u> , one of the world's leading primatologists, states that the Bonobo is often capable of  <u>altruism </wiki/Altruism></u> ,  <u>compassion </wiki/Compassion></u> ,  <u>empathy </wiki/Empathy></u> , kindness, patience and  <u>sensitivity </wiki/Sensitivity></u> .
Females are much smaller than males but can be considered to have a higher social status
Bonobos are capable of passing the  <u>mirror-recognition test for self-awareness </wiki/Mirror-recognition_test_for_self-awareness></u> .
They live in the DRC the Democratic RFepublic of the CONGO (former Belgian Congo).
 
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