Changes

Chimpanzee, often shortened to chimp, is the common name for the two extant species in the genus Pan. The better known chimpanzee is Pan troglodytes, the Common Chimpanzee, living primarily in West, and Central Africa. Its cousin, the [[Bonobo]] or "Pygmy Chimpanzee" as it is known archaically, Pan paniscus, is found in the forests of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. The Congo River forms the boundary between the two species.

Chimpanzee, often shortened to chimp, is the common name for the two extant species in the genus ''Pan''. The better known chimpanzee is ''Pan troglodytes'', the Common Chimpanzee, living primarily in West, and Central Africa. Its cousin, the [[Bonobo]] or "Pygmy Chimpanzee" as it is known archaically, ''Pan paniscus'', is found in the forests of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. The Congo River forms the boundary between the two species.

Most adherents to the theory of evolution hold the view that chimpanzees and humans share a close common ancestor, due to their similar natures and physiology. However, there are millions of species that are similar, due to the fact that they share a common habitat and must have similar structures and physiology in order to survive.  

Most adherents to the theory of evolution hold the view that chimpanzees and humans share a close common ancestor, due to their similar natures and physiology. However, there are millions of species that are similar, due to the fact that they share a common habitat and must have similar structures and physiology in order to survive.  

A study published by Clark and Nielsen of [[Cornell University]] in the December 2003 issue of the journal ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' highlights differences related to one of humankind's defining qualities — the ability to understand [[language]] and to communicate through speech. These macro-phenotypic differences, however, may owe less to physiology than might be assumed given that ''Homo sapiens'' developed modern cultural features long after the modern physiological features were in place and indeed competed averagely against other species of ''Homo'' with regard to tools, etc for many millennia. Differences also exist in the genes for smell, in genes that regulate the metabolism of amino acids and in genes that may affect the ability to digest various proteins.  

A study published by Clark and Nielsen of [[Cornell University]] in the December 2003 issue of the journal ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' highlights differences related to one of humankind's defining qualities — the ability to understand [[language]] and to communicate through speech. These macro-phenotypic differences, however, may owe less to physiology than might be assumed given that ''Homo sapiens'' developed modern cultural features long after the modern physiological features were in place and indeed competed averagely against other species of ''Homo'' with regard to tools, etc for many millennia. Differences also exist in the genes for smell, in genes that regulate the metabolism of amino acids and in genes that may affect the ability to digest various proteins.  

===Fossils===

===Fossils===

Many [[Human evolution|human fossils]] have been found, but chimpanzee fossils were not described until 2005. Existing chimpanzee populations in West and Central Africa do not overlap with the major human fossil sites in East Africa. However, chimpanzee fossils have now been reported from [[Kenya]]. The [[Theory of evolution|evolutionist]] researchers who discovered them asserted: "These fossils, from the Kapthurin Formation, Kenya, show that representatives of Pan were present in the East African Rift Valley during the Middle Pleistocene, where they were contemporary with an extinct species of Homo."<ref>McBrearty, S. and N. G. Jablonksi (2005), "First fossil chimpanzee," ''Nature'' '''437'''(7055):105-8. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/ Entrez PubMed], search on PMID: 16136135</ref>.

Many [[Human evolution|human fossils]] have been found, but chimpanzee fossils were not described until 2005. Existing chimpanzee populations in West and Central Africa do not overlap with the major human fossil sites in East Africa. However, chimpanzee fossils have now been reported from [[Kenya]]. The [[Theory of evolution|evolutionist]] researchers who discovered them asserted: "These fossils, from the Kapthurin Formation, Kenya, show that representatives of ''Pan'' were present in the East African Rift Valley during the Middle Pleistocene, where they were contemporary with an extinct species of ''Homo''."<ref>McBrearty, S. and N. G. Jablonksi (2005), "First fossil chimpanzee," ''Nature'' '''437'''(7055):105-8. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/ Entrez PubMed], search on PMID: 16136135</ref>.

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==