Bonobo

The bonobo (Pan paniscus) is a great ape and the smaller of the two species making up the genus Pan (the other is Pan troglodytes, the robust chimpanzee). The bonobo was called the dwarf, gracile or pygmy chimpanzee and assumed to be a subspecies of the robust chimpanzee until 1929, when it was discovered to be a different species. Although the name “chimpanzee” is sometimes used to refer to both species together, it is usually understood to mean the robust chimpanzee, while Pan paniscus is usually referred to as the bonobo.

Bonobos live in dense, tropical rainforests, in a 500,000 km² (193,051 sq mi) area south of the Congo River. This is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa.

Bonobos have high levels of sexual behavior. Sex functions in conflict appeasement, affection, social status, excitement and stress reduction. It occurs in virtually all partner combinations and in a variety of positions. This might explain why bonobos are less aggressive than robust chimpanzees and gorillas, but more aggressive than orangutans and gibbons. Bonobos are matriarchal and a male’s rank in the social hierarchy is often determined by his mother’s rank.

Bonobos and robust chimpanzees are separated by the huge Congo River. Its formation 1.5–2 million years ago may have led to the speciation of the bonobo. Their population is between 29,000 and 50,000 individuals. The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened by habitat destruction, human population growth and commercial poaching. The bonobo lives for about 40 years in captivity, though its lifespan in the wild is unknown.