Capuchin monkey

3
726
White face monkey at Palo Verde-1
White face monkey at Palo Verde. Image credit: John Trainor cc2.0

Capuchin monkey…

Cuddle Monkey
A close-up of a white-faced Capuchin monkey in Cahuita National Park. Image credit: Marissa Strniste cc2.0

Capuchin monkeys are about 12 to 22 inches (30 to 56 centimeters) long, with prehensile tails that are as long as their bodies. These arboreal monkeys spend most of their time up in trees where they are safe from predators. They are active during the day and spend most of it foraging.

White Face Capuchin
White Face Capuchin by Eric Kilby cc2.0

They feed on insects, birds’ eggs, fruit, nuts and leaves. Capuchins living near water will also eat crabs and shellfish. They use tools, like stones or sticks, to open hard nuts and shells, and are considered the most intelligent monkeys of the New World.

White face monkey at Palo Verde-1
White face monkey at Palo Verde. Image credit: John Trainor cc2.0

Capuchins are found in Central and South America, and are territorial creatures. They soak their hands and feet in urine and leave this scent around to mark their area. Males also cover their bodies with urine to attract females.




Capuchin Monkey Facts

New World Monkey
Alternative Names: Cebus capucinus
Where in the world? Central and South America
Habitat: Rainforests, savannas and swamp forests
Diet: Fruits, insects, leaves and nuts
Size: 12 to 22 inches long
Weight: Three to twelve pounds
Average lifespan: 40 to 45 years
Conservation status: Most species are listed as Least Concern, while three species, the Kaapori capuchin, the Golden-bellied capuchin and the Blond capuchin are Critically Endangered.

The white-headed capuchin is sometimes known as the organ grinder monkey, because it was often seen with street performers who used mechanical organs during the 17th century.

Capuchin monkeys are widely considered to be the most intelligent of all the New World monkeys. They have been known to use tools, with the black-striped capuchin being the first non-ape primate observed to use tools in the wild.

One researcher showed that capuchin monkeys understand the concept of fairness, refusing to receive a cucumber if another monkey was given a grape or refusing to get treats from a person who they thought treated someone else unfairly.

Taken from IP Factly’s 25 Awesome Apes & Monkeys




YouTube video playlist
Details of the videos featured are underneath.
Follow this link for more monkey videos.

The Playlist:

  1. Fighting monkeys – Clever Monkeys – BBC Earth
  2. Monkey’s bluff – Clever Monkeys – BBC Earth
  3. Fighting monkeys – Clever Monkeys – BBC Earth
  4. Capuchin Monkeys – Wild Caribbean – BBC
  5. Brown capuchin monkeys breaking nuts – One Life – BBC
  6. Capuchin monkeys reject unequal pay by salutaryman

3 COMMENTS

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here