# Would bonobos mate with humans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662 "2006-11-09T03:53:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/21 "2006-11-10T10:54:02Z")
Bonobo males, like human males, appear to be willing to stick their penises into any hole that presents itself. I doubt you’d have to go to much effort to get one to initiate anything. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/22 "2006-11-10T13:41:31Z")
That reminds me that we should reclassify the Linnean name from _Pan Paniscus_, to _Pan Promiscuous_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/23 "2006-11-10T19:12:17Z")
Well, [Pansexual](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pansexual&x=0&y=0) means " expressing or involving sexuality in many different forms or with a variety of sexual outlets." Frans de Waal said it was the perfect way to describe Bonobo sexuality. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/24 "2006-11-10T19:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] A variety of chimpanzee… [/QUOTE] Not really. Chimps and bonobos are a variety of the genus _Pan_, and neither can be claimed to be a variety of the other. Bonobos are a variety of ape, like we are. You wouldn’t, for instance, say that Neanderthals were a variety of Sapiens-- unless you’re a lumper. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/25 "2006-11-10T19:52:51Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] I do have to wonder what constitutes “willingly”, since this is a large part of the rationale for the outlaw of bestiality - basically, that animals are unable to consent to sexual activity and that puts the practice somewhere along the field of rape in society’s eyes. [/quote] That rationale, however prevalent, is complete bovine excrement. If “animals are unable to consent to sexual activity,” then how does society propose to explain their survival over these many, many years? Are the original ones immortal? Did they reproduce _in vitro_ at the behest of the magnanimous aliens from Galacticus Prime? Or does society perhaps advocate the belief that animals’ reproduction should be prohibited because they don’t pay taxes, or can’t vote, or something? > [@](#): > > By “willingly” do you mean would the bonobo be the one to initiate sexual contact? If so, it makes for a very interesting question. One I do not have an answer for, but wanted to clarify this point. Interesting question, perhaps; but probably because no one is allowed to find the answer due to “moral” implications. I don’t know whether bonobos would engage in physical intimacy with humans if given the opportunity. What I’m fairly convinced of, however, is that we will never find out because we’re too stupid to do so. We’ll wonder, but be content to wonder forever, lest someone get the wrong idea about our motives. That’s not fighting ignorance, that’s entrenching it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/26 "2006-11-10T20:27:23Z")
Of course, they can be [mean little bastards.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7087194/) > [@](#): > > “We know that one of the most reliable predictors of increased male aggression is the presence of sexually receptive females,” said Jeffrey French, a psychobiologist who studies primate behavior at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. > > Victim recovering > The chimps chewed off most of Davis’ face, tore off his foot and attacked his limbs and genitals. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/27 "2006-11-10T20:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Of course, they can be [mean little bastards.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7087194/) [/QUOTE] Those were chimps, not bonobos btw. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/28 "2006-11-10T20:34:29Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Those were chimps, not bonobos btw. [/QUOTE] Yes, but I wouldn’t advise dating either of them. Especially if she had a jealous boyfriend. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/29 "2006-11-10T21:02:55Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > A variety of chimpanzee… > > Not really. Chimps and bonobos are a variety of the genus Pan, and neither can be claimed to be a variety of the other. Bonobos are a variety of ape, like we are. You wouldn’t, for instance, say that Neanderthals were a variety of Sapiens-- unless you’re a lumper. I went back to the wikipedia article which says there is an increasing trend to use the word “chimp” to mean _Pan_, so maybe I need to take that back. I still think it adds some confusion, though, and invites the use of the inaccurate term “pygmy chimp” instead of “bonobo”, since you have to use the term “common chimp” for what I would just call a “chimp”. I don’t think de Waal ever calls bonobos chimps, but then he’s probably bonobo-centric. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/30 "2006-11-10T21:03:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Not really. Chimps and bonobos are a variety of the genus Pan, and neither can be claimed to be a variety of the other. Bonobos are a variety of ape, like we are. You wouldn’t, for instance, say that Neanderthals were a variety of Sapiens-- unless you’re a lumper. So it’s a good thing I didn’t say they were a variety of _P. trogolodytes_. I was using “chimpanzee” as a common term for the members of the genus _Pan_. Likewise, while I would not (necessarily) say that Neanderthals were a variety of _H. sapiens_, I would say that they’re a variety of human. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/31 "2006-11-10T21:36:42Z")
John Mace, I think your earlier statement was accurate in respect to the people who are heavily involved in Bonobo research. de Waal seems to use the terms very carefully and always seperate. I’ve been in communication with him so I will ask him what he thinks on that issue. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/32 "2006-11-10T21:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=kimera] John Mace, I think your earlier statement was accurate in respect to the people who are heavily involved in Bonobo research. de Waal seems to use the terms very carefully and always seperate. I’ve been in communication with him so I will ask him what he thinks on that issue. [/QUOTE] Yeah, wikipedia isn’t the end of the story, but it’s usually pretty good about such things. And actually, it’s a bit contradictory: > [@](#): > > Both species are chimpanzees, though that term is now frequently used to refer only to the larger of the two species, Pan troglodytes. To avoid confusion, this article follows the growing trend to use “chimpanzee” to refer to both members of the genus. Seems to me that using the term that was adds to the confusion rather than helps avoid confusion. Give de Wall my regards and tell him I love his books. Tell him to write some more!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/33 "2006-11-10T22:03:17Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] Since bonobo sex is not about reproduction, and many species when brought up by humans from the start view humans as part of the tribe, if a bonobo were raised by humans from the start would it willingly have sex with humans? (Of course this assumes it would see us as “part of the tribe”.) [/QUOTE] If you’re lonely it might be a lot easier just to check the back pages of _Creative Loafing_ or whatever throw-away weekly, _Chicago Reader_-esque rag you have in your area. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/34 "2006-11-11T15:32:39Z")
Whoah Whoah the more important question is what sexual position do Bonobos prefer? Missionary, Doggystyle, Bonobostyle? ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/35 "2006-11-11T17:44:13Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] If “tonker” means what I think it does, that’s a side effect of having big brains. Because the human brain is larger, the vagina needs to be larger to accomodate the larger head during birth. And with a larger vagina comes the need for a larger penis to match it. [/QUOTE] That may be part of the reason, but it’s not the whole story though is it? ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/36 "2006-11-12T03:20:18Z")
Ludovic: > [@](#): > > I was interested in both being the one to initiate and the one to receive initiation willingly. Ludo, you kink, you, are you saying you’d like to be in a bonobo daisy chain? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/37 "2006-11-12T15:02:04Z")
[QUOTE=JillGat] Ludovic: Ludo, you kink, you, are you saying you’d like to be in a bonobo daisy chain? [/QUOTE] Well, yes, if “Bonobo Daisy Chain” is the name of a band 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/38 "2006-11-12T15:19:35Z")
I thought that fellow who runs the USA was a hybrid. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/39 "2006-11-12T17:41:12Z")
Could an average sized bonobo vagina receive an average sized human penis? I’m assuming there’d be no problem getting a bonobo penis into a human vagina, and I’m sure it’s on YouTube somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662/40 "2006-11-12T18:14:10Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] A variety of chimpanzee, and therefore one of humanity’s closest relatives. They’re widely known for their extreme sexual promiscuity: A bonobo’s answer to nearly any situation is to have sex with the nearest other bonobo or group of bonobos, regardless of gender. [/QUOTE] And really, which species is happier? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bonobos-mate-with-humans/379662.md?page=3)