Bonobo or chimpanzee?
How to tell them apart
Bonobos live south of the Congo River and chimpanzees north of it; chimps hunt far more, eating monkeys and small antelope.
A bonobo has longer limbs, a darker face, pink lips and long hair parted on its head, and is consistently smaller.
Quick answers
They differ on 1 of the 8 quick answers: dangerous.
| Question | Bonobo | Chimpanzee |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Dangerous? differs | No | Can be |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Daytime | Daytime |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? | No | No |
At a glance
| Question | Bonobo | Chimpanzee |
|---|---|---|
| Found in | Africa | Africa |
| Habitat differs | Rainforest | Rainforest, Forest, Grassland |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Length differs | 70–83 cm (nose to rump, on all fours) | 63.5–92.5 cm |
| Weight differs | 34–60 kg | 26–70 kg |
| Legs differs | 4 | 2 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives | In troops | In troops |
| Lives for | 40 years | 40 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | No | No |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Bonobo
Along with the chimpanzee, our closest living relative. Bonobos live only south of the Congo River, in societies where females hold unusual power, and they often settle conflicts through affectionate and sexual contact. They mainly eat fruit.
Chimpanzee
A great ape of the forests and savannas of equatorial Africa and, with the bonobo, humanity’s closest living relative. Chimpanzees live in communities that can top 200 members, split into smaller foraging parties by day.
Everything on the chimpanzee page
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.