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Name || Brown capuchin monkey

Scientific Name || Cebus apella

Conservation Status || Lower Risk

Habitat || Rainforests of Northern and Central South America

Unique Features || These monkeys are also known as tufted capuchins because of the cap of short black hair that forms two ridges or tufts on either side of their crown. Social Behaviour || They live in groups of up to 14, usually with equal numbers of males and females though the group is dominated by one older male. The group has a peaceful and regular lifestyle but when provoked or threatened can be extremely aggressive. Despite their small size, as a group they are capable of driving away larger animals or predators. Diet || Fruit, seeds, insects, reptiles, birds and small mammals. Reproduction || The female capuchin usually gives birth to a single offspring, after a gestation of around 150 days. The babies are weaned at 12 months, but stay with their mother until they are older. Life Cycle || Capuchin monkeys can live up to 40 years Relatives || Capuchins are closely related to other monkeys in the cebidae family, including spider and squirrel monkeys. Interesting Facts : Capuchins are very smart, and are often kept and trained by humans (though not in New Zealand). They can often be seen on television programmes and movies. They have also been trained to work with disabled people. Like seeing eye dogs work with blind people, capuchins act as 'hands' for quadriplegics. Capuchin monkeys can be found in mixed species groups. In the wild they are most often found in association with squirrel monkeys. Usually the squirrel monkeys initiate the mixed group interaction, probably in order to find food more efficiently. The squirrel monkeys follow the brown capuchin monkeys to new food sources, which saves them foraging time. The association does not seem to benefit the capuchin monkeys. The capuchin monkey takes its name from the Capuchin monk, whose cowl the monkey's head-colouring resembles. The capuchin monkey has been called the most intelligent of the New World monkeys. It has a brain that is highly developed and large in proportion to the size of the animal itself, with an adult brain weight of 2-3 ounces. One hypothesis is that intelligence is related to subsistence strategy - the way the animal seeks its food. The capuchin relies mainly on hard-to-find foods that are only available for a short time, such as fruit and insects. This may require a larger brain and foods rich in energy to sustain it. Capuchins are masterful exploiters of their environment. They become easily bored in captivity - they explore everything within reach, often taking things apart in the process. Breeding Programme || Wellington Zoo currently has a non-breeding group of capuchins as we don't have room for any more. Environmental Conditions || Although capuchins are not considered to be at risk, they will become endangered if efforts are not made to retain their natural habitat. Their natural home, the rainforests of South America, is being destroyed at an alarming rate, and those still in the wild are at risk of poachers who take them and sell them as pets. At Wellington Zoo || We have 14 capuchins (10 males, 4 females) sharing an island in the Tropical River trail with 5 spider monkeys.

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