Panina

Classification

Panina is one of two subtribes of tribe Hominini; the other is Australopithecina (or Hominina). The genus Sahelanthropus lived around the time of the divergence, and may have then been found among one of these groups: a member of either branch of lineage; a precursor to both lineages; or possibly an early member of tribe Gorillini, which previously had split from the human-chimpanzee lineage. Regardless, the morphology of S. tchadensis supports the theory that, at and after the divergence, hominins then are unlikely to resemble in appearance(s) with any number of derived characters of their descendants. A genetic study conducted in 2010 surveyed chimpanzee mitochondrial genomes and discovered the presence of an extinct ghost lineage, (i.e., fossil evidence does not exist yet) of Panina that diverged around 3.3 mya and began interbreeding with bonobos (Pan paniscus), who then interbred with chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). This signature is carried more heavily in P. troglodytes despite having interbred with bonobos first, seeing as how they occupy a greater range.