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Bonobo

Pan paniscus

Description:

The bonobo is distinguished by relatively long legs, pink lips, dark face and tail-tuft through adulthood, and parted long hair on its head. The bonobo is popularly known for its 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 is a factor in the lower levels of aggression seen in the bonobo when compared to the common chimpanzee and other apes. Bonobos are perceived to be matriarchal; females tend to collectively dominate males by forming alliances and use sexuality to control males. A male's rank in the social hierarchy is often determined by his mother's rank. Most studies indicate that females have a higher social status in bonobo society. Aggressive encounters between males and females are rare, and males are tolerant of infants and juveniles. A male's status is derived from the status of his mother.[27] The mother–son bond often stays strong and continues throughout life. While social hierarchies do exist, rank plays a less prominent role than in other primate societies. The limited research on bonobos in the wild was taken to indicate that these matriarchal behaviors may be exaggerated by captivity, as well as by food provisioning by researchers in the field.[26] This view has recently been challenged, however, by Duke University's Vanessa Woods;[28] Woods noted in a radio interview[29] that she had observed bonobos in a spacious forested sanctuary in the DRC exhibiting the same sort of hypersexuality under these more naturalistic conditions; and, while she acknowledges a hierarchy among males, including an alpha male, these males are less dominant than the dominant female. (Wikipedia)

Habitat:

Bonobos are found only south of the Congo River and north of the Kasai River (a tributary of the Congo), in the humid forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo of central Africa. (Wikipedia)

Notes:

This bonobo is zoo-born at the San Diego Zoo. He/she is displaying the same termite fishing eating behavior this species displays in the wild. The termite mound is of course artificial, and is stocked with treats (not really termites) by the zookeepers. For more pictures of bonobos, see My Family Album: thirty years of primate photography by Frans de Waal

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5 Comments

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 11 years ago

Thanks Willie, I think this series is one of my best spottings because it shows an intersting wild behavior (even though it's at the zoo).

williefromwi
williefromwi 11 years ago

Wonderful spotting Ava T-B, so many spottings I missed this great one.

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 11 years ago

From today's New Scientist:
"Bonobo genome reveals more promiscuity in human past"
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shorts...

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 11 years ago

Thanks DanielePralong, de Waal is such a hero when it comes to Great Ape conservation and study!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 11 years ago

Wonderful series and info Ava! I like Frans de Waal's work.

Ava T-B
Spotted by
Ava T-B

San Diego, California, USA

Spotted on Jun 8, 2012
Submitted on Jun 10, 2012

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