Black capuchin

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Black capuchin [1]
Cebus nigritus cucullatus (Black capuchin - southern form).jpg
Black capuchin in Argentina
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cebidae
Genus: Sapajus
Species:
S. nigritus
Binomial name
Sapajus nigritus
(Goldfuss, 1809)
Black Capuchin area.png
Combined range of S. n. nigritus and S. n. cucullatus. S. n. robustus is found just northeast of this range (see text ).

The black capuchin (Sapajus nigritus), also known as the black-horned capuchin, [2] is a capuchin monkey from the Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil and far north-eastern Argentina. Historically, it was included as a subspecies of the tufted capuchin. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

The black capuchin was originally named Cebus nigritus or Cebus apella nigritus. While this has been changed, many sources still name the black capuchin as part of the genus Cebus. [3]

Social behaviour

Group size

The black capuchin is a social animal. It likes to live in groups, usually consisting of 6 to 20 members, and is hierarchical. Even though these groups tend to be made up of more females than males, the alpha female of the group is submissive to the alpha male.

The size of the group operates as a function of food availability; size and cohesiveness are highest when food is readily available. When food is scarce, black capuchins split up into smaller groups to cover more ground on a per capita basis. This is observed both seasonally in the short term and over the course of years in the long term. The larger the group, the more food they need, which in turn leads to more travel. [4]

Females are, for the most part, philopatric. Although the rare female can be observed leaving her natal group, dispersal is largely a male phenomenon. When females do leave, they do so gradually, retreating first to the group's periphery before breaking away entirely. [5]

Aggression

Males are apt to kill the offspring of competing males, especially during power struggles. [6] When females are aggressive, it is generally in food squabbles, but even these conflicts are generally relegated to the male portion of the population, with one study finding that females participated in only 19% of such fights. When they do so, however, they are almost always the aggressor (93% of the time in the same study), their favourite target being juveniles. [4] Such conflict perhaps arises due to the tendency of dominant females to take control of patchy areas of food. [5]

Communication

Communication within groups consists of bodily, facial and vocal communications. One example of this is the 'scream embrace mechanism', a high pitched called used to regroup (usually male) members of a group. [7]

Bonding

Grooming plays a central role in bonding between black capuchins. It serves the obvious purpose of hygiene, evidenced by how the monkeys focus their efforts on the areas of their partner which their partner cannot groom themselves. Grooming, however, also serves several social functions, all associated with bonding. For example, it allows for low-rank black capuchins to bond with the dominant members of the group and for members at odds with each other to reconcile and relieve tension. [8]

The purpose of such bonding is often for lower ranked monkeys to procure easier food access from dominant bond-partners. Females, for example, might compete to groom the dominant female [8] in those cases where a hierarchy exists, which is not assured among female black capuchins. [4] Still, same sex grooming is rare, however, with little to no evidence of male-male grooming and female-female grooming accounting for a minority of cases. [5] Female-female grooming only occurs when the group is highly cohesive. [4] When it does occur, they favour kin. Females more commonly bond with males, particularly the alpha. [5] The hierarchy has other effects on grooming as well. For one, face to face grooming is more frequent when the groomer is dominant and well-bonded with partner being groomed. The frequency increases even more based on rank-difference; the less equal the monkeys' footing in the above described situation, the more likely face to face grooming is. [8]

Reproduction

Females strongly favour the alpha male in choosing a sexual partner; one study found that he is the target mate in three quarters of female sexual advances and failed to find any coercion on his part which might force this outcome. [4]

To initiate mating, females possess a wide variety of signals, both auditory and ocular, which they employ at different stages of the process. There is some evidence that these are used to encourage coitus to occur at the time most opportune for procreation, including the increasing frequency at which visual signals occur as ovulation approaches. At least seven distinct calls exist for this purpose alone, although no evidence has been found that call type indicates anything to do with the stage of ovulation or fertility, although they do change pre and post copulation. [6] Those vocalized after mating may function to assure the chosen mate of his paternity by making the whole affair public knowledge and thereby encourage him to guard both the female and her resulting offspring from competing mates and infanticide. In this context, the purpose of male postcoital courtship is perhaps revealed to be mate protection. For the same ends, the potentially impregnated female might uses visual signals to assure the alpha of his status as her mate while using vocalizations to confuse the other males as to who the father truly is and thereby discourage aggression. [6]

Habitat

The black capuchin is found in the Atlantic region of North-eastern Argentina and South-eastern Brazil, with its habitat overlapping with other capuchin species. They are considered arboreal, mainly dwelling in the tree canopy, however will also drop to the forest floor to forage, where insects and nuts are most abundant. [9]

Diet

Black capuchin monkeys are omnivorous. They eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, bird eggs, small vertebrates, leaves, bulbs, seeds and fruits. Their choice among these depends primarily on seasonal availability. While they are considered generalist feeders, fruit can make up as much as three or four fifths of their diet. They are apt to experiment with new sources, which results in them consuming a diverse diet. One group of black capuchins, for example, ate 61 of 145 fruits available to them in their environment. When they exist in small patches of forest which lack adequate amounts of fruit to feed the whole group, black capuchins have been known to exploit nearby agricultural operations by stripping the bark from trees to eat the pine sap and phloem underneath. [10]

Subspecies

The black capuchin has three subspecies: Sapajus n. nigritus (nominate) and S. n. cucullatus are found in the southern part (the former eastwards, and the latter westwards) of this species' range, and both have a distinctive pair of tufts on the crown, as also suggested by the alternative common name of this species; black-horned capuchin. The last subspecies, the crested or robust tufted capuchin (S. n. robustus) is found in the northern part of this species' range (north of the Doce River), and has a median conical crest on the crown. [11] It is sometimes considered a separate species. [12]

Status

The black capuchin's population number is unknown, but thought to be declining. This is due mostly to habitat loss, hunting, and the pet trade, [13] however the species has been observed to be able to survive in fragmented and sparse areas of canopy. [9] The two southern subspecies remain relatively widespread and are rated as Near Threatened by the IUCN. [2] The distinctive northern subspecies has a far more restricted distribution and it is considered Endangered. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebidae</span> Family of New World monkeys

The Cebidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. Extant members are the capuchin and squirrel monkeys. These species are found throughout tropical and subtropical South and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panamanian white-faced capuchin</span> Species of primate

The Panamanian white-faced capuchin, also known as the Panamanian white-headed capuchin or Central American white-faced capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. Native to the forests of Central America, the white-faced capuchin is important to rainforest ecology for its role in dispersing seeds and pollen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-bellied capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The golden-bellied capuchin, also known as the yellow-breasted or buff-headed capuchin, is a species of New World or neotropical monkey. It lives mainly in trees and are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of both plant and animals as food. Golden-bellied capuchin normal home range is in the Atlantic forest of Brazil and it is critically endangered due to forest fragmentation and habitat loss mainly due to agriculture, there are currently efforts to protect them by the local government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capuchin monkey</span> Subfamily of New World monkeys

The capuchin monkeys are New World monkeys of the subfamily Cebinae. They are readily identified as the "organ grinder" monkey, and have been used in many movies and television shows. The range of capuchin monkeys includes some tropical forests in Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina. In Central America, where they are called white-faced monkeys ("carablanca"), they usually occupy the wet lowland forests on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Panama and deciduous dry forest on the Pacific coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tufted capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The tufted capuchin, also known as brown capuchin, black-capped capuchin, or pin monkey, is a New World primate from South America and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Margarita. As traditionally defined, it is one of the most widespread primates in the Neotropics, but it has recently been recommended considering the black-striped, black and golden-bellied capuchins as separate species in a new genus, thereby effectively limiting the tufted capuchin to the Amazon basin and nearby regions. However, the large-headed capuchin (S. a. macrocephalus), previously defined as a distinct species, has been reclassified as a subspecies of the tufted capuchin, expanding its range east to Peru and Ecuador and south to Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-fronted capuchin</span> Common name for several monkey species

White-fronted capuchin can refer to any of a number of species of gracile capuchin monkey which used to be considered as the single species Cebus albifrons. White-fronted capuchins are found in seven different countries in South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaapori capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The Kaapori capuchin, also known as the Ka'apor capuchin, is a species of frugivorous, gracile capuchin endemic to the Brazilian Amazon. Their geographical home range is relatively small and is within the most densely populated region of the Amazon. With the strong human presence nearby,C. kaapori has had to deal with very large amounts of disturbances to their habitat and is one of the most endangered of the neotropical primates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedge-capped capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The wedge-capped capuchin or Guianan weeper capuchin is a capuchin monkey from South America. It is found in northern Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. Cebus olivaceus is known to dwell in tall, primary forest and travel over long distances during the day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-striped capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The black-striped capuchin, also known as the bearded capuchin, is a New World monkey in the family Cebidae. They can be found in northern and central Brazil. These capuchins mostly live in dry forests, and savannah landscapes between the Rio Araguaia and the Rio Grande. Known for its tool use, the black-stiped capuchin has been shown to use tools in a wide variety of situations, ranging from using rocks for nut cracking to using sticks for digging. They were, until recently, considered a subspecies of the tufted capuchin, but because of more research and insights, they are considered their own species by many.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large-headed capuchin</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The large-headed capuchin is a subspecies of the tufted capuchin monkey from South America. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It was formerly thought to be its own species, but studies have found it to be a subspecies of the tufted capuchin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blond capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The blond capuchin is a species of capuchin monkey endemic to northeastern Brazil. This endangered species was rediscovered in 2006. It can live in exceptionally large groups of over 150 individuals, and like other capuchin species, exhibits a complex and high level of sociality. It is threatened by loss of habitat due to agriculture, primarily sugarcane fields. In many cases this has caused sugarcane to make up a large portion of their diet, which would otherwise consist of mostly fruit and small animals. The blond capuchin is known to inhabit both the Atlantic forest and Caatinga biomes, although the habitation of the Caatinga may be a recent choice caused by human encroachment into its former habitats. Like other primate species, the blond capuchin is also threatened by poaching and capture for the illegal pet trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robust capuchin monkey</span> Genus of mammals belonging to the capuchin and squirrel monkey family of primates

Robust capuchin monkeys are capuchin monkeys in the genus Sapajus. Formerly, all capuchin monkeys were placed in the genus Cebus. Sapajus was erected in 2012 by Jessica Lynch Alfaro et al. to differentiate the robust (tufted) capuchin monkeys from the gracile capuchin monkeys, which remain in Cebus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gracile capuchin monkey</span> Genus of mammals belonging to the capuchin and squirrel monkey family of primates

Gracile capuchin monkeys are capuchin monkeys in the genus Cebus. At one time all capuchin monkeys were included within the genus Cebus. In 2011, Jessica Lynch Alfaro et al. proposed splitting the genus between the robust capuchin monkeys, such as the tufted capuchin, and the gracile capuchins. The gracile capuchins retain the genus name Cebus, while the robust species have been transferred to Sapajus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-faced capuchin</span> Common name for several monkey species

White-faced capuchin, or white headed capuchin, can refer to either of two species of gracile capuchin monkey:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crested capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The crested capuchin or robust tufted capuchin is a species of robust capuchin monkey. It is endemic to Brazil. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the black capuchin but is now considered by some to be a separate species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azaras's capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

Azaras's capuchin or hooded capuchin is a species of robust capuchin. It occurs in eastern Paraguay, southeastern Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Brazil, at Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso states, in Pantanal. Its habitat consists of subtropical, humid, semi-deciduous, gallery forests and forested regions of the Pantanals. Formerly, it was considered a subspecies of black-striped capuchin, according to Groves (2005) with the name Cebus libidinosus paraguayanus, but Silva Jr. (2001) considered it a separated species. They are considered as frugivores-insectivores which means that their diet mainly consists of a variety of fruits, seeds, arthropods, frogs, small mammals, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombian white-faced capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The Colombian white-faced capuchin, also known as the Colombian white-headed capuchin or Colombian white-throated capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. It is native to the extreme eastern portion of Panama and the extreme north-western portion of South America in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humboldt's white-fronted capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

Humboldt's white-fronted capuchin is a species of gracile capuchin monkey. It is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and potentially the island of Trinidad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marañón white-fronted capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The Marañón white-fronted capuchin also or known as Peruvian white-fronted capuchin or Andean white-fronted capuchin is a species of gracile capuchin monkey from the upper Amazon Basin. It had been regarded as synonymous with the shock-headed capuchin, which was then considered a subspecies of Humboldt's white-fronted capuchin, but it was classified as a separate species by Mittermeier and Rylands based on genetic studies by Boubli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margarita Island capuchin</span> Subspecies of monkey

The Margarita Island capuchin, also known as the tufted Margarita Island capuchin or mono de margarita is a subspecies of the tufted capuchin that only resides in the Caribbean Sea on Margarita Island, Venezuela.

References

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  11. Rylands, A. B., Kierulff, M. C. M., & Mittermeier, R. A. (2005). Notes on the taxonomy and distributions of the tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus, Cebidae) of South America. Lundiana 6 (supp.): 97-110
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