🌿Native Nature

Bonobo

Pan paniscus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Primates ›Family: Hominidae ›Genus: Pan

About

The bonobo (/bə.ˈnoʊ.boʊ/ or /ˈbɒ.nə.boʊ/; Pan paniscus), formerly called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often, the dwarf or gracile chimpanzee, is an endangered great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan; the other is Pan troglodytes, or the common chimpanzee. Although the name "chimpanzee" is sometimes used to refer to both species together, it is usually understood as referring to the common chimpanzee, whereas Pan paniscus is usually referred to as...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Bonobo?
The scientific name of Bonobo is Pan paniscus.
What is the conservation status of Bonobo?
The Bonobo has a conservation status of Endangered.
What kingdom does Bonobo belong to?
Bonobo belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Bonobo belong to?
Bonobo belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Bonobo belong to?
Bonobo belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Bonobo belong to?
Bonobo belongs to the order Primates.
What family does Bonobo belong to?
Bonobo belongs to the family Hominidae.
What genus does Bonobo belong to?
Bonobo belongs to the genus Pan.

In the News

Great ape laughter reveals a hidden origin of human speech

The rhythm of human laughter appears to have deep evolutionary roots shared with chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans. That ancient pattern may offer one of the clearest clues yet to how the vocal control needed for human speech gradually evolved.

ScienceDaily Plants & Animals · 7/2/2026

Before tourists can see bonobos, trackers must earn their trust

Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. In Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, researchers and trackers are working to habituate a group of about 60 bonobos. The aim is to help the great apes accept a limited human presence, first for […]

Mongabay · 6/23/2026

Apes can imagine too

Turns out imagination is not unique to humans. A series of experiments has shown that a language-trained bonobo was able to distinguish real from fake objects and engage in pretend play. Scientists sat down for a “tea party” with Kanzi to understand how the ape would respond to make-believe scenarios. The results have shown that […]

Mongabay · 6/22/2026

Four years to earn their trust: Habituating bonobos in DRC’s Salonga National Park

SALONGA NATIONAL PARK, Democratic Republic of Congo — Just before sunrise, while much of the rainforest remains cloaked in darkness, a team of researchers and trackers leaves the Inkomu research camp. Their destination is the previous night’s nesting site of a group of bonobos deep within the Salonga forest, located in the center of the […]

Mongabay · 6/11/2026

Chimpanzees and bonobos have human-like friend circles, study finds

Great apes appear to build friendships much like humans do. By studying grooming behavior, researchers discovered that chimpanzees and bonobos form close inner circles along with wider networks of weaker social connections. Chimpanzees focus on a few trusted partners and become more selective with age, while bonobos maintain a more egalitarian social style.

ScienceDaily Plants & Animals · 5/31/2026