Our Two Closest Relatives

Bonobos and Chimpanzees are BOTH our closest relatives

Both species are members of the "chimpanzee" genus Pan and both represent our species closest living relative. How can humans have two closest relatives? Similar to how two aunts or cousins are different from one another but equal in their genetic relation to you.

Bonobos and Chimpanzees both share close to 98% of their genome in common with humans, meaning that their genomes are more similar to that of humans than they are to that of gorillas. Surprise! Even though they appear to be more similar to gorillas they are more closely related to us.

Our two closest relatives are also different from each other

Even though the two species are equally related to humans, the two species differ from each other in important ways that can help us understand our own species evolution. Bonobos and chimpanzees diverged from each other < 1 million years ago and differ significantly in morphology, behavior, emotions and cognition.

The Bonobo

Bonobos are female dominant, with females forming tight bonds against males through same-sex socio-sexual contact that is thought to limit aggression. In the wild, they have not been seen to cooperatively hunt, use tools, or exhibit lethal aggression.

The Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees are male dominant, with intense aggression between different groups that can be lethal. Chimpanzees use tools, cooperatively hunt monkeys, and will even eat the infants of other chimpanzee groups.

Below is a detailed comparison of the two species