[ExI] bonobos vs. chimps

[Damien Broderick]

On 6/5/2010 4:28 PM, spike wrote:

> I think
> what we see in this case is speciation as a result of a slight difference in
> behavior: dominant males-win-chimps = bigger individuals, stronger, a
> meaner, often murderously violent society, as opposed to
> ladies-choice-bonobos = smaller individuals, peaceful, a share the food and
> fuck everything in sight society.

In a novel I just read, it was suggested that because bonobos fuck 
everything in sight and are fucked by everything in sight no male can be 
sure of paternity, so they are far less rewarded (genetically) by 
killing a new mate's previous kids, which chimps like doing. This 
differential then cascades through into other phenotypic and behavior 
differences. Analogies come to mind.

Damien Broderick