ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF FETAL GROWTH IN A BONOBO (PAN-PANISCUS)

Starting about 4 mo before parturition, repeated ultrasonographic exam inations were performed on a pregnant 27-yr-old bonobo (Pan paniscus). The bonobo was operant conditioned to allow all examinations to be pe rformed while awake and unrestrained. To assess fetal growth and healt h, attempts were made to obtain biparietal diameter, head circumferenc e, abdominal circumference, and femur length measurements at each exam ination. Once parturition had occurred, these measurements were plotte d against time to produce fetal growth curves for the last 4 mo of bon obo gestation.