Bonobo apes

Is the bonobo a chimp or an ape?

The bonobo (/ b n o b o, b n b o /; Pan paniscus), also historically 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 being the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Does the bonobo have any predators?

Due to its large size and the ability of the bonobo to escape into trees, the bonobo has few natural predators in the African forests. The main predators of the bonobo are humans who hunt the bonobo for its meat and the odd crocodile when the bonobo gets close to the water.

Is the bonobo a keystone species?

Bonobos are known as a keystone species, vital to the diversification and existence of their forests. Bonobos, which are close relatives of the chimpanzee, service the forest by dispersing a multitude of seeds, thus maintaining rich, diverse forests.

What would a bonobo do?

Bonobos feed mainly in trees and descend to the ground to move to other trees. They eat mostly fruits (which they often share with one another) and other vegetation, such as herbs and roots. In some places, food is washed in streams. The diet is supplemented by invertebrates such as caterpillars and earthworms.