There is one widely recognized species of chimpanzee: the common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes. Scientists divide it into four recognized subspecies, while the closely related bonobo is a separate species in the same genus, Pan.
Why the answer can seem confusing
The question gets different answers because “chimpanzee” is used both narrowly and casually. In scientific classification, it usually refers to the common chimpanzee. In everyday conversation, people sometimes use “chimp” loosely for either member of the genus Pan, including bonobos. That broader usage does not make bonobos a subspecies of the common chimpanzee.
There is also a difference between a species and a subspecies. A species is a major classification of organisms; a subspecies is a recognized population within a species that has distinctive traits and a geographic range. The four commonly recognized subspecies are all common chimpanzees, not four separate species.
Taxonomy is a scientific framework, and classifications can be revised as researchers learn more. However, the standard answer in current reference works is one common chimpanzee species, with four subspecies, alongside a separate bonobo species.
The common chimpanzee’s scientific classification
The common chimpanzee belongs to the genus Pan, the family Hominidae, and the order Primates. Hominidae is the great-ape family, which also includes bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and humans. Chimpanzees are not monkeys: apes lack tails, and they differ from monkeys in several features of anatomy and movement.
Humans and chimpanzees are both living members of the great-ape family, but humans are not descended from chimpanzees living today. The two lineages share an ancestral population in the past and then evolved separately. Bonobos and common chimpanzees are more closely related to each other than either is to humans.
A scientific name helps prevent ambiguity. Pan troglodytes refers to the common chimpanzee species. The genus name, Pan, is shared with bonobos, whose scientific name is Pan paniscus. The species name is therefore important when a writer wants to be precise.
The four recognized subspecies
Common chimpanzees are generally classified into four subspecies. Their ranges are associated with different parts of equatorial Africa, although boundaries between populations are not always sharp. The standard names are:
- Pan troglodytes verus, the western chimpanzee.
- Pan troglodytes ellioti, the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.
- Pan troglodytes troglodytes, the central chimpanzee.
- Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, the eastern chimpanzee.
These names describe recognized geographic and biological groupings within one species. They are not simply different names for individual chimpanzees, nor do they mean that every animal can be assigned confidently to a subspecies from appearance alone. Researchers use evidence such as geographic origin and genetic relationships when studying population histories.
Subspecies classifications can be useful for conservation because a population may face distinct pressures in its range. They also help researchers discuss variation without treating every regional difference as evidence of a separate species.
Where chimpanzees live
Common chimpanzees live in tropical Africa, across a broad belt of forest and woodland south of the Sahara. Their habitat includes moist forests, more open woodland, and some savanna landscapes. They need suitable food and places to nest, but they are adaptable and can use varied environments.
The four subspecies are distributed across different regions. Western chimpanzees occur in West Africa; Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees occur around the Nigeria-Cameroon region; central chimpanzees range through parts of Central Africa; and eastern chimpanzees live farther east. These broad descriptions do not define exact borders, and habitat can be broken into isolated patches by human activity.
Bonobos have a much more restricted natural range, in forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That geographic separation is one reason the two species are usually easy to distinguish in the wild: their ranges do not overlap in the same way that neighboring populations within a species can.
How chimpanzees differ from bonobos
Bonobos are often called pygmy chimpanzees, but that common name can mislead. They are not simply smaller common chimpanzees; they are a distinct species with their own evolutionary history. Both species are highly social, intelligent great apes, and both live in communities with complex relationships.
There are visible tendencies, but appearance alone is not a dependable way for a casual observer to identify every individual. Bonobos are often described as having a more slender build and a darker face, while common chimpanzees are generally more robust. Social behavior also differs in broad patterns, but behavior varies among individuals and groups, so simplified stereotypes are not a substitute for careful study.
The clearest answer to “How many species of chimpanzee?” depends on what the speaker means. If “chimpanzee” means the common chimpanzee, the answer is one. If someone is informally referring to the genus Pan, there are two living species in that genus: the common chimpanzee and the bonobo.
Why taxonomy matters for conservation
Counting species is not just a naming exercise. Conservation assessments, research, and legal protections may refer to a species as a whole, to particular subspecies, or to populations in specific places. Accurate identification helps explain which animals and habitats a conservation effort is intended to protect.
All common chimpanzees face serious threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, and disease. The pressures and their severity vary by location. A population separated from others by roads, farms, or settlements may have fewer opportunities to move between habitat patches, which can affect its long-term prospects.
Subspecies labels can draw attention to populations with restricted ranges or distinctive conservation needs. At the same time, conservation does not depend only on taxonomy: protecting connected habitat, reducing killing and illegal trade, and limiting disease risks are important across the species. Bonobos face conservation pressures too, but they are assessed as a separate species.
Common misconceptions about chimpanzee species
- “There are four chimpanzee species.” This usually confuses the four subspecies of the common chimpanzee with species-level groups.
- “Bonobos are a type of common chimpanzee.” Bonobos are a separate species, Pan paniscus.
- “Chimpanzees are human ancestors.” Humans and chimpanzees share an ancestor; living chimpanzees are not ancestors of living humans.
- “A subspecies is just a nickname.” It is a taxonomic category used for a differentiated population within a species, though classifications can change as evidence develops.
Another source of confusion is that common names are not always used consistently. A museum label, textbook, or general article may use “chimp” to mean the common chimpanzee, while another source may use it as shorthand for both Pan species. Checking the scientific name resolves the ambiguity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there one or two species of chimpanzee?
Strictly speaking, the common chimpanzee is one species. The genus Pan contains two living species: the common chimpanzee and the bonobo. Whether the answer is one or two depends on whether “chimpanzee” is being used narrowly or informally for the genus.
How many subspecies of common chimpanzee are there?
Four subspecies are commonly recognized: western, Nigeria-Cameroon, central, and eastern chimpanzees. They are regional groups within Pan troglodytes, not four separate species.
Is a bonobo a chimpanzee?
A bonobo is a close relative in the genus Pan, but it is not a common chimpanzee. Its species name is Pan paniscus, whereas the common chimpanzee is Pan troglodytes.
Are chimpanzees monkeys?
No. Chimpanzees are apes, part of the great-ape family. Monkeys and apes are both primates, but they are distinct groups; apes do not have tails.
Can the subspecies be identified by appearance?
Not reliably in every case. Geographic origin and genetic evidence are more dependable for scientific classification than a quick visual comparison, especially when populations vary and their ranges meet or are uncertain.
The short answer
There is one widely recognized species of common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes, divided into four commonly recognized subspecies. Bonobos are not one of those subspecies: they are the common chimpanzee’s close relatives and the second living species in the genus Pan.