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Bonobos have a more human-like second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D) than chimpanzees: a hypothesized indication of lower prenatal androgens |
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| Authors: | Matthew H McIntyre Esther Herrmann Michel Halbwax Nick de Sousa Debby Cox Brian Hare |
| Institution: | a Department of Anthropology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA b Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig 04103, Germany c Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138, USA d Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo e Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Pointe Noire, People's Republic of Congo f Jane Goodall Institute, Arlington, VA 22203, USA g Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA |
| Abstract: | The ratio of the second-to-fourth finger lengths (2D:4D) has been proposed as an indicator of prenatal sex differentiation. However, 2D:4D has not been studied in the closest living human relatives, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). We report the results from 79 chimpanzees and 39 bonobos of both sexes, including infants, juveniles, and adults. We observed the expected sex difference in 2D:4D, and substantially higher, more human-like, 2D:4D in bonobos than chimpanzees. Previous research indicates that sex differences in 2D:4D result from differences in prenatal sex hormone levels. We hypothesize that the species difference in 2D:4D between bonobos and chimpanzees suggests a possible role for early exposure to sex hormones in the development of behavioral differences between the two species. |
| Keywords: | digit ratios 2D:4D second-to-fourth finger length ratio prenatal androgens sex differences social behavior |
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