This genetic study shows these species diverged between 4.1 and 7.3 million years ago.

In other words: Do species converge or diverge as they evolve?

Molecular estimates, however, suggest the two species diverged from each other much earlier, around 11.7 million years ago.

However, as the human species diverged only 10,000 years ago, this variation rate is comparatively small.

The comparison has shown these two species diverged around 400,000 years ago, more recently than was previously thought.

Molecular data suggests that the two species diverged during the Pleistocene epoch.

The species diverged during the early Pliocene (about 5 million years ago).

The two species diverged from a common simioid ancestor, and are quite similar, but cannot interbreed.

Further analysis suggested that this particular species diverged from its ancestral stock some 5.7 million years past.

Molecular estimates, however, suggest the species may have diverged much earlier, around 11.7 million years ago.