Males remain in their mother's group for life while females emigrate. In contrast to chimpanzees, bonobo society is female-centered and egalitarian. Neither sex is dominant although males will typically defer to females. A male gets his rank in the group from his mother. The son of the dominant female is the highest ranking male in the group, and he will hold this rank as long as his mother is alive or remains the dominant female.
Females earn rank in the group through childbirth and by bonding with the higher ranking females.
Head-body length is 28 to 30 inches for females and 29 to 33 inches for males. Even within its range, it occurs only sporadically. Researchers have seen them eat small mammals in the wild, but have never seen them hunt for meat. Eating meat may be opportunistic in nature and, in captivity, bonobos are strictly herbivores. Bonobos can live as long as 55 years, maybe longer in captivity.