paniscus 1Bonobo or Pygmy ChimpanzeePan paniscusClassification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Hominidae Genus: Pan Species: Pan paniscusPan. Paniscus (bonobo/pygmy), chimpanzees, are similar to Pan. Troglodytes (common chimpanzees), in many ways. Because of this, I am only detailing some of the differences. Currently the bonobo population numbers less than 20,000 individuals, the bonobo is listed as an endangered species by the United States fish and wildlife Service. The bonobo is threatened by forest destruction for forest products and agriculture, they are hunted for food and sale for pet trade (AZA, 1998, p.2). Bonobo populations have been greatly reduced by deforestation and human encroachment. The bonobo is in high demand for bio-medical research, since hunting bans are not always enforced, they are heavily poached (Bonobo, 2000, p.1). One of the major threats to this species is that its range lies entirely within the country of the Democratic Republic of Congo (AZA, 1998, p.2).P. paniscus 2Geographic Range: Historically the bonobo is considered a rare species relative to other apes because of its small range and habitat limitations(AZA, 1998, p.2). The populations are discontinuous and widely scattered. Bonobos live near the Zaire River in the lowland rainforests and swamp forests. Morphological:Bonobos can be distinguished from chimpanzees by their more slender frame, longer hind limbs, shorter clavicle, and smaller molars. It has been established through molecular genetic analyses that the chimpanzee genus, P. paniscus, is most closely related to humans and shares approximately 98% genetic identity (AZA, 1998, p.1). Bonobos are generally smaller than chimpanzee genus, P. Troglodytes and are less dimorphic, males are only 30% heavier (Hodgson, 1998,p.1). There is sexual dimorphism in the canines where the males are longer than ...
