IUCN: Least concern

• The capuchin monkey takes its name from the Capuchin monk, whose cowl the monkey’s head-colouring resembles.            
• 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.
• They live in groups of up to 14, the group can be aggressive when provoked or threatened. Despite their small size, as a group they are capable of driving away larger animals or predators.
• Capuchin monkeys can live up to 40 years.
• The first capuchin monkeys at Wellington Zoo arrived in 1911.            
• 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. 
• Capuchin monkeyscan be found in mixed species groups and at Wellington Zoo they live on Monkey Island alongside spider monkeys.
• The capuchin monkey has been called the most intelligent of the New World (South American) monkeys. 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 can become bored in captivity - they explore everything within reach, often taking things apart in the process.