What Is the Difference Between a Bonobo and a Chimpanzee?


Bonobos (Pan paniscus) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are part of the same genus, Pan, and share 98.7% of their DNA. They also share over 98% of their DNA with humans. Although they split from a common ancestor about 1.7 million years ago, they have developed clear differences in their appearance, behavior, and social structures.
In the following article by thedailyECO, we explore the differences between bonobos and chimpanzees, based on field research and behavioral studies.
What is a bonobo?
Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are great apes that inhabit the tropical forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their limited geographic range makes them the only great ape species confined to a single country.
Male bonobos weigh 45 kg (99 pounds) and reach heights of 73-83 cm (29-33 inches), while females weigh 34 kg (75 pounds) and measure 70-76 cm (28-30 inches). Their faces are black with distinctive pink lips and pink eye rings. They have a slender build compared to other great apes and frequently engage in bipedal locomotion, walking upright on two legs.
Bonobos organize themselves in fission-fusion societies, where groups of 3-6 individuals split and merge throughout the day. These small groups form part of larger communities that can reach 100 members.
Female bonobos maintain dominant social positions, controlling food resources and group movement patterns. This female dominance is unique among great apes and shapes their social dynamics.
Bonobos display several interesting behaviors. They use social bonding to reduce tension within the group and share food among members. They communicate through high-frequency calls and use tools in both wild and captive settings.
Their diet primarily consists of fruit, which makes up about 75% of their food intake. This is supplemented by young leaves and shoots, flowers and pith, invertebrates, small vertebrates (on occasion), and tree bark and roots.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists bonobos as endangered. Current population estimates range from 5,000 to 17,000 individuals in the wild. Key threats to bonobos include the shrinking of their forest habitat, hunting for bushmeat, instability in their region, and the expansion of agriculture.

What is a chimpanzee?
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) inhabit tropical forests across 21 countries in Central and West Africa. They are found from Senegal to Tanzania, making them the most widely distributed of all great apes in Africa.
Male chimpanzees weigh 60 kg (132 pounds) and reach heights of 90-100 cm (35-39 inches), while females weigh 47 kg (103 pounds) and measure 80-85 cm (31-33 inches). Their faces and bodies are covered in dark brown or black hair, and infants are born with pale skin that darkens with age. They move primarily on all fours using knuckle-walking, though they can walk upright for short distances.
Chimpanzees live in communities of 15-80 individuals, which divide into smaller groups for daily activities. These groups vary in size depending on food availability and social factors. Male chimpanzees stay in their birth group throughout their lives, while females typically leave to join other groups when they reach adolescence.
Male chimpanzees form strong hierarchical relationships and establish dominance through physical displays and social alliances. The alpha male leads the group and controls access to food and mating opportunities. This male-dominated structure differs significantly from bonobo societies.
Chimpanzees are highly intelligent and exhibit complex behaviors, including the regular manufacture and use of tools. For example, they use sticks to "fish" for termites, leaves as water sponges, rocks to crack nuts, and modified branches to hunt small prey.
Their diet consists of a variety of foods, including fruit (which makes up about 60% of their food intake), leaves and other plant matter, insects, small mammals, bird eggs, and honey.
The IUCN classifies chimpanzees as endangered. Population estimates indicate that between 172,000 and 300,000 individuals remain in the wild, a significant decline from approximately one million in 1960. Major threats to chimpanzee populations include habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for bushmeat, the transmission of diseases from humans, conflict with humans, and the expansion of mining and agriculture.
Did you know that humans share more DNA with chimpanzees than with any other species? Discover just how close this relationship is in our detailed comparison.

What are the key differences between chimps and bonobos?
Despite sharing 99.6% of their DNA and diverging from a common ancestor only 1.7 million years ago, bonobos and chimpanzees have evolved distinct physical features and social behaviors. While they were considered the same species until 1929, research has documented significant differences in their anatomy, behavior, cognition, and social organization. Let us explore some of them:
Physical differences:
- Bonobos have smaller heads, pink lips, and pink skin around their eyes. Chimpanzees have larger heads, darker faces, and their offspring's skin darkens with age.
- Bonobos have longer legs, narrower shoulders, and smaller ears compared to chimpanzees.
- Bonobos walk bipedally up to 25% of their ground travel time, while chimpanzees use knuckle-walking for 98% of ground movement.
- Adult male chimpanzees are 15 kg (33 pounds) heavier than male bonobos on average.
Behavioral differences:
- Lethal aggression has never been observed in wild bonobos, while chimpanzees regularly engage in inter-group violence.
- Chimpanzees hunt cooperatively and eat meat 3-4 times per week, while bonobos hunt alone and eat meat only about once per month.
- Bonobos use sexual behavior for social bonding and conflict resolution throughout their cycle, while chimpanzees mainly mate during estrus.
- Male bonobos often help care for and share food with infants, including unrelated ones. Chimpanzee males rarely interact with infants.
Social differences:
- Female bonobos form coalitions and lead groups. Male chimpanzees compete for alpha status and lead groups.
- Female bonobos maintain strong bonds after joining new groups. Female chimpanzees typically remain socially peripheral after migration.
- Bonobo groups are more cohesive and stable, while chimpanzee groups frequently split into smaller parties.
- Bonobo groups often interact peacefully when meeting. Chimpanzee groups are typically hostile to other groups.
Cognitive differences:
- Bonobos excel at social tasks and reading emotions. Chimpanzees perform better at tool-use and spatial problems.
- Wild chimpanzees use a wider variety of tools and modify them more extensively than bonobos.
- Bonobos learn more readily through social means, while chimpanzees show stronger individual learning abilities.
- Bonobos share food more readily and show more voluntary cooperation than chimpanzees.
To better understand where bonobos and chimpanzees fit in the animal kingdom, explore our other article on primates.

Similarities between bonobos and chimpanzees
Both species demonstrate remarkable intelligence and tool use capabilities, maintain complex social relationships, and display empathetic behaviors. They share similar dietary preferences, primarily consuming fruits, leaves, and other plant materials, though their hunting behaviors differ. Both species are also primarily arboreal, spending significant time in the forest canopy.
Both bonobos and chimpanzees face significant challenges in the wild. Bonobos are particularly vulnerable, with only 5,000 to 17,000 individuals remaining in their native habitat. Chimpanzees, while more numerous, also face threats from habitat destruction, poaching, and human encroachment.
While they share many characteristics, their unique adaptations and social structures make them fascinating subjects of study. As our closest living relatives, their conservation is crucial not only for maintaining biodiversity, but also for continuing to learn about our own evolutionary history.
Did you know that like bonobos and chimpanzees, gorillas also have distinct subspecies? Learn about their unique characteristics in our other article.
If you want to read similar articles to What Is the Difference Between a Bonobo and a Chimpanzee?, we recommend you visit our Facts about animals category.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Chimpanzee. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/chimpanzee
- Cawthon Lang KA. 1 December 2010. Primate Fact Sheets: Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Conservation. https://primate.wisc.edu/primate-info-net/pin-factsheets/pin-factsheet-bonobo/
- De Viña, A. (sf). Meet the bonobo. Spanish Primatological Association. https://apespain.org/conoce-al-bonobo/
- Gray, L. (2021). New bonobo genome fine-tunes studies of great ape evolution. University of Washington. https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/new-bonobo-genome-fine-tunes-great-ape-evolution-studies