The bonobo is the closest living relative of humans, sharing more than 98 percent of our genetic profile. This is as close as a fox is to a dog. The split between the human line of ancestry and the line of the chimpanzee and the bonobo is believed to have occurred five million years ago. They travel in mixed gender, foraging groups daily. In the morning, they will break into foraging groups again, the size of which is dependent upon food availability.
Males remain in their mother's group for life while females emigrate.
In contrast to chimpanzees, bonobo society is female-centered and egalitarian. Neither sex is dominant although males will typically defer to females. A male gets his rank in the group from his mother. The son of the dominant female is the highest ranking male in the group, and he will hold this rank as long as his mother is alive or remains the dominant female. Females earn rank in the group through childbirth and by bonding with the higher ranking females.