Knowra Capuchin monkey Capuchin monkey A New World monkey in the genera Cebus or Sapajus, native to Central and South America. Capuchins are known for dexterous hands, varied diets, and complex social behavior.
New World monkey : A primate native to the Americas, belonging to the infraorder Platyrrhini. Capuchins belong to this primate group, alongside marmosets, tamarins, and spider monkeys.
Tool use by animals : The use of external objects to achieve goals such as obtaining food or solving problems. Capuchins are among the best-known non-ape primates to use tools in the wild.
Animal cognition : The study of mental processes in nonhuman animals, including learning, memory, and reasoning. Capuchins provide a well-studied case for comparing cognition across species.
White-faced capuchin : A Central American capuchin species, Cebus imitator, with a pale face and dark cap. This familiar gracile species is known for flexible foraging and social behavior.
Cebidae : A family of New World monkeys that includes capuchins, squirrel monkeys, and several smaller monkey groups. Capuchins are cebids, sharing this family with squirrel monkeys.
Nut cracking by capuchins : A capuchin foraging behavior in which monkeys use stones to break open hard-shelled nuts. This behavior demonstrates their ability to select, transport, and wield heavy tools.
Comparative psychology : The study of behavior and mental processes across different animal species. Experiments with capuchins test how social and cognitive abilities compare across primates.
Black-striped capuchin : A robust capuchin species, Sapajus libidinosus, native to parts of Brazil. Its wild stone-tool use is among the best-documented examples of capuchin tool behavior.
Cebus : A genus of capuchin monkeys that includes gracile species, including the white-faced capuchin. This is one of the two living genera named in the capuchin classification.
Extractive foraging : Foraging that obtains food hidden inside protective structures or substrates. Capuchins dig, pry, and strike to reach foods that are difficult to access.
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