The bonobo (/ b ə ˈ n oʊ b oʊ, ˈ b ɒ n ə b oʊ /; Pan paniscus), also historically called the pygmy chimpanzee (less often the dwarf chimpanzee or gracile chimpanzee), is an endangered great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan (the other being the common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes). [4]

Feb 7, 2025 · Bonobo, species of ape found only in lowland rainforests along the south bank of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The bonobo was regarded as a subspecies of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) until 1933, although the two species diverged from each other about 1.7 million years ago.

The bonobo are a great ape in the same genus as chimps, previously thought of as a subspecies, but now considered their own distinct species. They have historically been referred to as the pygmy chimpanzee, or dwarf chimpanzee – despite their body size being similar to chimps.

As the last great ape to be scientifically described, much remains unknown about the bonobo—including the extent of its geographic range. Efforts to survey the species over the past two decades have been hampered by the remote nature of its habitat, the patchiness of its distribution, and years of civil unrest within the DRC.

Feb 27, 2025 · Apes in the canopy Bonobos use a variety of forest types including primary and secondary forests. High densities are known in secondary forest on dry ground, and they are reported to spend much of their time in dense tropical forest canopy in search of food.

The bonobo (Pan paniscus) is an endangered species of great ape found in a 500,000 km 2 (190,000 sq mi) area of the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa. Bonobos are one of the closest living relatives to humans, sharing DNA of more than 98%.

The bonobo is a species of great ape that shares nearly 99 percent of our DNA, just like chimpanzees. Yet these primates, native only to Democratic Republic of the Congo, are often overshadowed...

Bonobos are matriarchal great apes and humans’ closest living relative. They live only in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are endangered mainly due to wildlife trafficking and the illegal pet trade. Learn about these unique animals!

Dec 1, 2010 · Bonobos show a greater predisposition for bipedal gait than other apes because of a more centrally positioned foramen magnum, longer thigh bones, longer feet, and differential distribution of body weight (Myers Thompson 2002).

Feb 12, 2022 · In honor of World Bonobo Day, learn about this unique endangered great ape and see how AWF works with partners to protect bonobo habitat in DRC.