capuchin monkey, small monkey from Central and South America

The Cebidae family

The term Capuchin refers to several monkeys. Scientifically, the Cebidae family comprises 4 genera:

• Capuchins (Cebus),
• The Sapajous or Sajous (Sapajus),
• Saïmiris (Saimiri), also known as squirrel monkeys or Sapajous,
• And the Apelles.

Some authors add the Callitrichidae family, represented by the Ouistitis, Tamarins, Pinches and Lion Monkeys.

However, when we look at the vernacular names of the monkeys, some are referred to as Sapajou when in fact they are Cebus. Here are a few examples. The Brown Capuchin (Sapajus apella) is also known as Sapajou apelle, Black Sajou, Sajou apelle or Black-topped Capuchin. The Yellow-breasted Capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos) is sometimes called the Yellow-breasted Sapajou. The White-headed Capuchin (Cebus capucinus) is also known as the Monk Monkey, Monk Capuchin, White-faced Sapajou or simply Capuchin.

The group life of the Capuchin monkey

Capuchin behaviour varies according to their environment and the size of their group, which ranges from 5 to 40 individuals. The dominant male has only a few advantages, but is not really comparable to the leader.

Capuchin groups are highly mobile, travelling an average of 2 kilometres a day over an overall territory averaging around thirty square kilometres. In the event of a threat, the males group together and show their teeth while uttering shrill cries, which serve both to alert the group and to scare off intruders.

Males move around more than females and may even leave their group to join another.

The threat to the Capuchin monkey

Snakes, caimans, jaguars and even ocelots threaten them. It is for this reason that the Capuchins rarely return to the ground, as the heights are safer for them. However, the air is also a threat, and probably the worst, as the forest eagle, the ferocious harpy, roams there. To protect themselves, the monkeys in a group stand guard at all times, taking it in turns to sound the alarm in the event of a threat.

Escape is not systematic and sometimes a group decides to confront the enemy, although the scientists cannot explain why. The size of the group is undoubtedly a factor, but it is not the only one. Large groups may flee from a snake, while smaller groups may decide to confront a jaguar.

Capuchin populations are not threatened, but deforestation is limiting their natural habitat more and more every day.

What the Capuchin monkey eats

The Capuchin is an omnivore. Its diet naturally depends on what it finds in its environment. The forests where it lives provide it with fruit, seeds, nuts and insects. It will also eat spiders, birds, lizards, eggs, molluscs and even small mammals such as squirrels. It lives in trees and only comes down to the ground to drink.

The composition of its diet also depends on the size of the group in which it lives. Scientists have observed that the larger the group, the greater the proportion of protein in the Capuchin’s diet, and the smaller the group, the greater the proportion of fruit.

The hypothesis put forward to explain this change in behaviour is that a territory provides a limited quantity of food. A small group of monkeys is more vulnerable than larger ones. They will therefore tend to consume food that is not in great demand, only turning to other sources of food, which are also coveted by other animals, in the event of a shortage. Conversely, larger groups are more independent of the competition and turn more readily to more immediately available food sources.

The proximity of the capuchin monkey to humans

What is perhaps most fascinating about the Capuchin monkey is its face, which has only a few white hairs, revealing pale pink skin. This gives the primate human-like features, which particularly struck the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnæus (1707-1778).

The Capuchin has a “semi-opposable” thumb, which limits its ability to grasp objects. They are nevertheless very dexterous.

Capuchins have no specific breeding season: they reproduce all year round, just like human beings. The comparison stops there, however, as the males are polygamous, their aim being to impregnate as many females as possible. Polyandry is also common: females often mate with several males, showing themselves capable of coitus interruptus (the male is rejected before emitting sperm).

The intelligence of the Capuchin monkey

The Capuchin monkey is highly intelligent. It has been observed using a stick to reach insects in areas inaccessible with its feet, using stones selected for their sharpness to peel and break solid-shelled fruit or to shell prey, and even using rudimentary spikes as weapons to skewer prey or defend itself against an adversary. It can use its long tail to lead prey astray, so that if it thinks it is being attacked on one side, it flees towards the monkey on the other. It rubs its fur with the pulp of certain fruits to get rid of parasites or to protect its skin, as we would do with a cosmetic cream.

This intelligence makes it difficult to capture in a trap cage. Even if the cage is perfectly concealed, the Capuchin does not fall into the trap. Only a net stretched over him outside his field of vision is effective.

But trying to make the Capuchin a pet is idiotic, because in captivity it loses much of its mental alertness. The best way to observe them is in the wild, in the National Parks of Central and South America. They are not very shy and often come out to meet visitors, who entice them with food. However, this practice is not encouraged so as not to make the animals dependent on humans.