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White-throated capuchin - CEBUS CAPUCINUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The word "Capuchin": "Capuchin" is a French word taken from Italian "cappucino," meaning "hooded one." Thus, also, the order of monks who wore hooded robes.
Description: The capuchin's body is nimble and slender, with thin limbs as well. The thumbs and big toes are opposable to the other fingers and toes. The head is round with short hairs at the back which are darker than the rest of the coat. The long tail is covered with hair and is partly prehensile. Length of head and body one to two feet, tail about the same, weight 3 to 9 lbs.
Location: Southern Central America.
Habitat: Arboreal. Forests, but these species have also adapted to places colonized by man.
Behavior: The capuchin lives in quite large groups, hidden among the dense arboreal vegetation of the forest. It descends to the ground only to drink. Each group has its own home range - often quite extensive - in which the members move about in search of the most abundant feeding grounds. The various members of the group remain in contact with one another by calling. In order to keep their sense of direction and mark territory, they leave a scent among the foliage of the trees by soaking their feet and hands in their urine (urine-washing). They feed on fruit, insects, leaves, small birds, and possibly also on small mammals.
Reproduction: After a gestation period of about 6 months, the female gives birth to a single young, which she weans after a few months.
Go to the Primates Page to learn more about the other man-like animals.
Go to the Index to compare the various monkeys found in America Zoo.
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