Bonobo

Physical Description

• They are not common chimpanzees

Bonobos are known as pygmy chimpanzees.

Bonobos are not divided into subspecies like other animals.

Bonobos are apes about two-thirds the size of man.

They have dark hair covering their bodies.

The hair is generally longer than in common chimpanzees and is particularly noticed on the cheeks, which are relatively hairless

The portions of body not covered with hair (i.e. mid-face, hands, feet) are darkly colored throughout life.

This main difference is with common chimpanzees, which have lighter skin, particularly during the younger years.

They knuckle walk which means.

General Characteristics

Length :  63.5 – 94 cm ( 25 – 37 in )

Weight : 34 – 70 kg  ( 13.6 –  28 in )  / Female weight: 26 – 50 kg ( 10.4 – 20 in )

Tail  Length : none

Range –  Gambia in the west to Uganda in the east, Congo.

Habitat – Tropical rainforest ,and also found in forest savanna

Diet –  fruit , nuts , stems , shoots, pith, leaves , roots, and flowers

What type of animal : omnivore

Status – Population has decreased by 50 % the last three generations. In the near future bonobos are highly risked to extinction in the wild.

Reason for the status –  Hunting , habitat destruction and humans abusing them

Gestation Period : 240 days

Lifespan – 50 years in the wild / 35 yrs in captivity