Bonobo social structure is very unique among mammals. They can be described as living in fission/fusion groups where individuals regularly form small subgroups for foraging, but also may join together from time to time to form larger groups. Bonobos are highly promiscuous (which may be described as being somewhat hierarchical), and only mothers care for the young. Upon adolescence, female bonobos disperse from their natal groups and either form new groups or join already existing groups. Males stay with their mother for life, creating the strongest bond seen in bonobo society. Bonobos live in bisexual multi-male communities (unit groups) which may range from 50-120 members. (Gerloff, 1999).

The most interesting aspect of bonobo social structure is the status and behavior of bonobo females. The social system may be described as female-centered egalitarian, for females may transfer between communities while males are strictly philopatric. So, genetically speaking, most communities should consist of closely related males and unrelated females, and show high degrees of sociability between males and little sociability amongst females. Unlike any other great ape species, the bonobo female is considered by most researchers to be dominant, and at the very least, equal to males (Hohmann, 1999).