Final answer:
Humans and bonobos split approximately 6 to 7 million years ago from a common ancestor. Bonobos are known for their peaceful, egalitarian social structures in contrast to the often aggressive societies of chimpanzees. Homo habilis, an early human ancestor, demonstrates the ancient divergence between humans and other primates like bonobos.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolutionary Split of Humans and Bonobos
Humans and bonobos underwent an evolutionary split from a common ancestor approximately 6 to 7 million years ago. Despite sharing 99% of their DNA with humans, bonobos exhibit unique social structures, with female-dominant groups that are generally egalitarian and peaceful. Unlike the often male-dominant and aggressive chimpanzee societies, bonobos are known for their frequent and diverse sexual behavior, which tends to strengthen social bonds and mitigate conflicts within their groups. Fascinatingly, Homo habilis, an early human ancestor known for stone tool usage, existed around 2.5 million years ago and had a larger brain volume compared to chimpanzees, indicating a clear evolutionary trajectory from our primate relatives.
The study of primate fossils, such as the Denisovan jawbone found to be approximately 160,000 years old, provides insights that contribute to our understanding of human evolution. However, the discovery of Homo habilis by Leakey, Tobias, and Napier in 1964, marked by its unique skeletal structure and larger brain volume, serves as another significant milestone in tracing our evolutionary lineage back to a common ancestor shared with bonobos and other primates.