Title

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

Authors

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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