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Tufted Capuchin

Tufted Capuchin
Cebus Apella
Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cebidae
Subfamily: Cebinae
Genus: Cebus
Species: Cebus paella

Description

The Brown or Tufted Capuchin is recognized by its characteristic head coloration, a black or dark brown cap with dark sideburns. On either side of the dark cap on the head there are tufts of dark fur above the ears. The shoulders are paler than the back which ranges from shades of yellow to red-brown, darkest in the middle of the back. The face can range from brown to pink. There is significant variation in face color among even members of the same group but adult males tend to be darker in color than females. Sexual Dimorphismis seen in the wild tufted capuchin with males averaging 2.95 kg (6.49 lb) and females averaging 2.077 kg (4.58 lb). Sexual dimorphism is also exhibited in canine size with males possessing larger canines than females. In captivity, tufted capuchins are significantly heavier, with males averaging 6.089 kg (13.42 lb) and females averaging 3.19 kg (7.03 lb) (Leigh 1994). Head and body length is 444 mm (17.48 in) for males and 390 mm (15.35 in) for females. The tail is about as long as the rest of the body (Napier 1976). In a captive case of extreme longevity, a tufted capuchin male lived until he was at least 45 years old (Hakeem et al. 1996).

Movement

Locomotion is principally quadrupedal and while traveling, the prehensile tail is not typically used and is curved down behind the body. The tail is mainly used during feeding and foraging and serves as a brake while descending. The tail helps to control risky movements, assist in changes in direction and to stabilize the capuchin while feeding its characteristic seated posture. The tufted capuchin normally moves on branches and twigs and suspensor postures are rare.

Location

C. paella range (in red)
The tufted capuchin is only found in South America, in the countries of Colombia , Ecuador , Peru , Bolivia , Brazil , French Guiana, Suriname , Guiana, and Venezuela (Fragaszy et al. 2004). The Margarita Island tufted capuchin (C.a. margaritae) is isolated from the rest of the population off the North Coast of Venezuela and is separated from the nearest mainland population by around 800 km (Groves 2001; Fragaszy et al. 2004). This population presumably has been on the island since the pre-Columbian era but, ultimately, its origin is unknown (Groves 2001). The heart of the range of the tufted capuchin is the northwestern half of Brazil and the Amazon basin. It is found in western Amazonia, and in the middle and lower Rio Amazonas and the Guianas (Rylands et al. 2005). Its northern limit extends up to Venezuela as far as the Federal Territory of Amazonas and is limited by savannahs (Rylands et al. 2005). The west of the tufted capuchin range extends into the Colombian Amazon and as far as the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain chain south into Peru (Rylands et al. 2005). The southern limit in Brazil appears to be limited by the bush savannah of central Brazil (Rylands et al. 2005). Eastern extremes of the range may extend past the Rio Xingu but there is some dispute as to the limits of the range (Rylands et al. 2005). The tufted capuchin has the largest range of all of the New World primates (Freese & Oppenheimer 1981).

Tufted capuchins were studied for over ten years at La Macarena, Colombia by Kosei Izawa starting in 1986 (Izawa 1988). Other prominent studies include those in Peru by Charles Janson.

Lifespan / Longevity

Typical Longevity in the wild is unknown, but captive Cebus appella may live to 45 years old. (Nowak, 1991).

Behavior

Cebus apella is diurnal and arboreal. Most traveling is done quadrupedally by leaping and climbing.

Brown capuchin monkeys are social animals forming groups of 8 to 15 animals. Juvenile males leave the group at sexual maturity and seek out new groups in which to mate. The core members of a group are, therefore, the females who typically spend their entire lives in the same group.

The group is lead by a dominant male, who is most active in protecting the group from predators and other groups of monkeys. If another group comes into his home range, the dominant male leads the attack to drive the other group away. However, C. apella is less aggressive towards other troops than other Cebus species. Home ranges may overlap by 40% and different troops have been observed feeding near each other without antagonism. The dominant male has the first choice in mating and food sources. When food is scarce and a new source is found, the dominant male always eats first. Other members of the group tolerated by the dominant male are allowed to eat with him, but subordinate members must wait until the priority group is finished. This priority group often consists of juveniles, infants and a few favorite females. While dominant males are usually tolerant of their own offspring, juveniles from previous dominant males are treated with great hostility. Most aggression taking place within the group stems from competition for food. Social grooming is common throughout the group.

Playing is common among juveniles in the wild and in captivity. Brown capuchins are the only neotropical primate that play with objects that are placed in their enclosures. Cebus apella individuals are intelligent and curious animals. (Emmons, 1990; Flannery and March 26, 2000; Kinzey, 1989; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

Communication and Perception

These monkeys scent mark themselves by washing their hands in their own urine and rubbing their hands on their fur. This may be a way for males to advertise their sexual maturity.

Female brown capuchin monkeys in estrus try to attract the attention of the dominant male by following him and making loud calls. A wide variety of vocalizations is known from Cebus species. These were divided into 4 categories in C. olivaceus: contacting the group, contacting individuals, ending aggressive encounters, alerting the group to the presence of danger.

Gestures and facial expressions are also widely used in communication and social grooming is an important form of contact. (Emmons, 1990; Forbes, MacKeith, and Perberdy, 1984; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

Food

Fruits are a large part of brown capuchin monkey's diet. This species can eat larger fruits than other species of capuchin monkey because of their robust jaws. Vegetation, seeds, pith, eggs, insects, reptiles, birds, and small mammals (such as mouse opossums) are also included in their diet. During the dry season, when food is scarce, Scheelea palm frond pith is critical to this animal's survival.

Foraging is a noisy and destructive activity. Brown capuchin monkeys move from tree to tree, ripping apart vegetation and cracking open nuts against branches. They look for vertebrate and invertebrate prey by destroying dead vegetation and capturing anything inside. Individuals who catch prey do not usually share with other group members.

Reproduction

Cebus apella has a polygamous mating system. Females mate preferentially with the dominant male. Other males have mating opportunities when the dominant male is not present. During the last two days of a female's estrus cycle, the dominant male is very protective and keeps the female from mating with subordinate males. (Emmons, 1990; Forbes, MacKeith, and Perberdy, 1984; Kinzey, 1989; Rowe, 1996)

Cebus apella does not appear to have a breeding season, though most births may occur during the dry season or early rainy season. The ovarian cycle lasts for approximately 21 days and females show no external genital swellings during estrus. The gestation period is 150-160 days and one infant is born, twins are very rare.

Young males leave their natal group once they reach sexual maturity. Male brown capuchin monkeys are considered sexually mature at 7 years of age. Females mature earlier and may give birth to their first offspring as early as 4 years old. (Forbes, MacKeith, and Perberdy, 1984; Linn, 1995; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

Parenting is left to the females, although males are tolerant of juveniles. Allomothering is a common practice. Infant capuchin monkeys cling to their mothers' fur during their first few months of life. Mothers travel with their infants and nurse them during that time. If a young capuchin monkey is separated from its mother, other members of the troop will respond to the infant's distress calls. Female capuchins remain in their natal group at adulthood while males disperse. (Nowak, 1991).

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Cebus apella has been extensively hunted for meat. These animals are also popular pets in many parts of the world. They have been trained to perform household tasks for people with disabilities and are most commonly known as the monkeys used by itinerant "organ grinders". (Emmons, 1990; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996).

Conservation Status

Because of its high reproductive potential and its habitat flexibility, hunting and habitat destruction have not devastated populations as severely as they have other species of primates. However, certain subspecies may be threatened, including C. a. xanthosternos and C. a. robustus from the Atlantic forests of eastern Brazil .