Pan paniscus bonobo :: essays papers

Pan paniscus bonobo Pan. 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. â€Å"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. â€Å"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). â€Å"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). Geographic 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: â€Å"Bonobos can be distinguished from chimpanzees by their more slender frame, longer hind limbs, shorter clavicle, and smaller molars. â€Å"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). â€Å"There is sexual dimorphism in the canines where the males’ are longer than the canines of the females†(Flannery, 2000, p.1). â€Å"Molecular biologists estimate that the bonobo diverged from its relative, the common chimpanzee, only about 1.5 million years ago†(Kano, 1990, p.1). â€Å"The body structure of the bonobo is an adaptation for climbing and living an arboreal lifestyle in the rainforest† (AZA, 1998, p.1). â€Å"This little known ape is not really a chimpanzee, gorilla, or an orangutan. It is a very unique creature, whose anatomy resembles that of â€Å"Lucy† the most famous find of pre-human skeleton† (Bonobo, 2000, p.1). â€Å"Because of the similar morphological traits, some anthropologists consider the bonobo to be the best living prototype for the common ancestor of humans and African apes† (AZA, 1998, p.1). Thus, it would follow that the bonobos have many human-like morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits. Natural History: â€Å"Major foods of the bonobos include fruits, shoots, leaves, seeds, flowers, and bark.