Humans' Closest Relatives Remember Former Foes
Bonobos, Chimpanzees Exhibit Surprisingly Similar Memory Patterns
Study Based on Decades of Observation
A new study has found that bonobos, a species of great ape closely related to humans, have a remarkable ability to recognize individuals they have previously encountered, even after a long period of time. The study, published in the journal "Current Biology," is the first to examine long-term memory in bonobos and provides insights into the evolution of social behavior in humans and other primates.
The research team, led by Josep Call of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, conducted the study by observing 12 male bonobos and 14 male chimpanzees over a period of 10 years. During this time, the researchers recorded over 9,300 hours of interactions between the animals and analyzed their behavior in detail.
The researchers found that both bonobos and chimpanzees were able to recognize individuals they had previously encountered, even after a period of several years. However, the researchers also found some subtle differences in the memory patterns of the two species. Bonobos were more likely to approach and interact with individuals they had previously encountered, while chimpanzees were more likely to avoid these individuals.
The researchers believe that these differences in memory patterns may reflect the different social structures of the two species. Bonobos live in relatively peaceful and egalitarian societies, while chimpanzees live in more hierarchical and aggressive societies. As a result, bonobos may benefit from maintaining positive relationships with as many individuals as possible, while chimpanzees may benefit from avoiding individuals who pose a threat.
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