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The phylogenetic and taxonomic status of Pan paniscus : A chromosomal perspective
Author(s) -
Stanyon Roscoe,
Chiarelli Brunetto,
Gottlieb Karen,
Patton William H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330690408
Subject(s) - pan paniscus , bonobo , biology , phylogenetic tree , troglodytes , ancestor , taxon , evolutionary biology , zoology , genetics , ecology , geography , gene , archaeology
The taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of the bonobo or pygmy chimpanzee continues to be debated. In this report we examined the phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of the pygmy chimpanzee by a three‐way comparison of the banded chromosomes of humans, Pan troglodytes and Pan paniscus . The evaluation pays particular attention to distinguishing ancestral versus derived chromosomes in order to determine the direction of the chromosomal differences found between these three taxa. P. paniscus and P. troglodytes are shown to share a number of derived chromosomal changes indicative of a probable extensive period of common evolution after the divergence of the humans. The karyological evidence also demonstrates that the pygmy chimpanzee is most likely a valid species, and that it is also the most chromosomally specialized of the three taxa examined. Therefore, from the chromosomal perspective, the pygmy chimpanzee is not the best model for the last common ancestor of both humans and African apes. The chromosomal data also suggest that all the African apes have evolved more from this last common ancestor than is generally considered.