Brown Capuchin Monkey
Cebus apella
Distribution:
South America
Habitat:
Rainforests, mangroves, savannah forests.
Diet:
They are omnivores, eating not only fruits, nuts, seeds and buds, but also insects, spiders, bird eggs and small vertebrates. Capuchins living near water will also eat shells and crabs by cracking their shells with stones
Gestation:
150 - 180 days, one young born
Longevity:
15 - 20 years in the wild, 40 - 45 years in captivity.
Predators:
Birds of prey
Conservation Status:
Least concern
General:
Brown Capuchin Monkeys are arboreal animals, moving quadrupedally by leaping and climbing - using their long tails as a 'fifth limb'. Extremely curious, playing is common amoung juveniles in the wild and in captivity.
Brown Capuchins are very vocal primates, using loud calls, screeches, hisses, whistles, growls and rumbles. With sounds all having different meanings, from a food calls to danger alerts.
Highly socialble primates, Brown Capuchins usually live in social groups of 8 - 15 indiviuals. The dominant male will take on leadership of the group, protecting it from predators as well as defending his groups territory from other groups of monkeys.
Fun fact: Brown Capuchins use a wide variety of facial expressions to communicate to each other, including raising their eyebrows when flirting with a mate.
At Hamilton Zoo:
Our Capuchins can be found in the rainforest area, following the boardwalk out of the parrot court.
Females:
Nachos - 20/2/09
Amani - 20/11/09
Garbanzo - 26/01/17
Clarissa - 29/12/94
CJ - 13/01/02
Males:
Diez - 11/11/18
Manuel - 18/01/10
Churi - 19/10/15
Nino - 16/2/21
Kahlo - 20/3/21