Bonobos have a more human-like second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D) than chimpanzees: a hypothesized indication of lower prenatal androgens

    Authors

    M. H. McIntyre; E. Herrmann; V. Wobber; M. Halbwax; C. Mohamba; N. de Sousa; R. Atencia; D. Cox;B. Hare

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Hum. Evol.

    Keywords

    digit ratios; 2D:4D; second-to-fourth finger length ratio; prenatal; androgens; sex differences; social behavior; SEXUAL-DIMORPHISM; DIGIT RATIO; PAN-PANISCUS; AFRICAN APES; ANOGENITAL; DISTANCE; ANOLIS-CAROLINENSIS; RELATIVE LENGTHS; TESTOSTERONE; ONTOGENY; MICE; Anthropology; Evolutionary Biology

    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. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Human Evolution

    Volume

    56

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    361

    Last Page

    365

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000266057500004

    ISSN

    0047-2484

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