Sex Roles in Primate Relatives Common Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes

Sex Roles in Primate Relatives

Common Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes

• Live in tropical Africa

• Have estrus and menstruation

• monthly

• Females choose mating partners

• May form consort relationships

• briefly during estrus

• Live in matrifocal groups

• Mothers nurse for 5 years

• Mothers and children have lifelong relationships

• Siblings have lifelong relationships

Bonobo Chimpanzees Pan paniscus

• Walk upright more

• Use sexual behaviors to comfort or to resolve conflict

• Display all types of homosexual and heterosexual behaviors

• Matrifocal groups

• Same lifelong mother-child and sibling relationships

Bonobo Male Grooming Female

Upright, Bipedal Bonobo Carrying Sugar Cane

Bonobo Relaxing

Bonobo Female Stretching

Bonobo Intercourse in Missionary Position

Bonobo Intercourse in Missionary Position

Bonobo Females “GG Rubbing”

Bonobo Males “Rump-Rubbing”

Bonobo Female Masturbating

Bonobo Male Display

Bonobo Baby

Bonobo Mom and Baby Playing

Bonobo Matrifocal Group