Read My Lips

An adult bonobo plays "airplane" with a juvenile. Adults frequently play with younger bonobos, which serves to teach them some of the skills they'll need as adults.

Jumanji, an adult male, holds the hand of Muhdeblu, a juvenile male. Hand-holding is a friendly gesture and often leads to playing, grooming, or an embrace.

Mchumba, a juvenile female, makes an intense play face while wrestling with an unidentified adult. The play face serves to ensure that both know that the interaction is play and not aggression. Like humans, bonobos make breathy "laughing" sounds during play.

Jumanji makes a play face while nodding toward Muhdeblu. Jumanji was soliciting play with Muhdeblu, who eventually acquiesced.

Adult bonobos also play with other adults, a behavior that seems more common than in the other great ape species. Here, Ikela, an adult female, gives a hearty laugh while playing with Lolita, another adult female.

How do bonobos beg for food? Lana, an adult female, demonstrates how by pursing her lips.

Lenore, an adult female, gives a bared-teeth grin to Lori, another adult female. This expression can be a friendly sign as seen here, but it can also signify fear. In this picture, it appears that Lenore is trying to get some of the food that Lori holds.

Sex, from simple kissing to copulation, is frequent among bonobos, and it takes many forms—females with females, males with females and other males, and older bonobos with younger ones. Here, Mchumba, the juvenile female, and Junior, an adult male, kiss. Kissing in bonobos is generally a sign of friendship and affection, and often serves as a greeting, much as in some human cultures.