White faced Capuchin Monkey
The Cebus Capucinus or White Throated Capuchin of Costa Rica
Swinging through the trees, posing for cameras or helping themselves to bananas from kitchen tables, the white faced is the most beloved of tourists to Costa Rica
The White Faced Capuchin Monkey is one of four monkey species native to Costa Rica. Other than the loud early morning and late afternoon calls of the Howler Monkey, the White Faced is the species most often experienced by visitors.
Appearance
The White Faced Capuchin is named after Capuchin Monks who wear a white cowl. The Capuchin is dark brown or black in the limbs and body with creamy white on the shoulders, chest, neck and head. The fur is black or dark brown on the top of the head, coming down to a broad point above the eyes. The face of the Capuchin appears pink: this hair is more sparse and shorter. The monkey is long limbed with a long prehensile tail; an adult male can reach a height of 42 centimeters and weigh up to 4 kilos, females are smaller. The young do not reach full stature until they are 8 years old.
Environment
Capuchins live in troupes of up to twenty. They spend their lives in the canopy but can come to the ground when necessary. Capuchins are omnivorous eating flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds as well as insects, lizards, birds, rodents and even smaller monkeys. They are an important part of the rainforest ecosystem distributing seeds and pollen across a wide area. Each troupe has a large territory, up to 8 square kilometers; the troupe will travel up to 2 kilometers daily leaving an area to regenerate or fruit to ripen before returning to the same spot.
Behaviour
White Faced Capuchins are extremely intelligent and curious. Their inquisitive nature and ability to learn has worked to their detriment: they were used as street entertainers and are still kept as pets. In their natural environment they belong to a tightly knit group of family members collected around a dominant couple. The troupe consists mostly of females and young with an older male and one or two younger less dominant males. Bonding takes place through group and mutual grooming. The young learn by imitation closely watching and copying their elders, especially the dominant pair. Capuchins are very social and interact constantly through noise, sight, scent and touch. While not as noisy as the Howler Monkeys, they have a variety of calls and sounds from a soft cluck to a loud yelp and hissing through open mouths.
Responding to Threats
Capuchins have very expressive faces and use several set expressions for communication. The most common is the initial response to a perceived threat. For this the mouth will be opened revealing impressive inch long canines. The lower jaw protrudes and the lips curl back making the mouth as threatening as possible. The monkey stares, holding the body rigid while bobbing sharply up and down or back and forth. At the same time they may bang branches together or knock a branch with the flat of their fists. The facial expression will be held for up to three seconds before the monkey changes position or hisses. Capuchins are quick to break branches or sticks from trees to throw, with good aim. Holding a stronger branch with their tail and feet they bounce using the momentum to break large dead branches.
Family Life
Only one female at any time will be in season. Gestation lasts up to 167 days and results in one offspring. The gray-headed infant will remain in constant physical contact with its mother. Young will nurse until they are 1 year old and become sexually mature at 2 to 3 years. In their natural environment Capuchins live into their 20s.
