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Animals and mushrooms consumed by bonobos (Pan paniscus): New records from lilungu (Ikela), Zaire

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Abstract

We list the animal species, mushrooms and honey, which are consumed by bonobos (Pan paniscus)in the Ikela region (Lilungu), Republic of Zaire, and compare these data with those obtained from other populations of bonobos: Lomako, Yalosidi, and Wamba. Lilungu bonobos consume earthworms more regularly than bonobos do at other localities. They also eat larvae, termites, and ants, but they probably do not consume invertebrates as regularly as chimpanzees do. Lilungu bonobos ate a squirrel and a chiropteran. We report our detailed observations of bonobo foraging, feeding and manipulating foods, including washing some items and complicated handling operations. We note intra- and intergroup differences in the consumption of specific foods and in the way they are handled by the females.

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Bermejo, M., Illera, G. & Pí, J.S. Animals and mushrooms consumed by bonobos (Pan paniscus): New records from lilungu (Ikela), Zaire. Int J Primatol 15, 879–898 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736074

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736074

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