Native to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, it belongs to the genus Sapajus, the robust capuchins—famous for their stocky build, tool use, and intelligence. Among them, the crested capuchin stands out for its distinctive head tuft, giving it a “crested” appearance that looks a little like a natural mohawk or crown.

In terms of appearance, crested capuchins are medium-sized monkeys. Their fur is generally a rich brown with lighter buff tones on the chest, shoulders, and head, where the golden or creamy coloration contrasts beautifully with their darker body. The most recognizable feature is the crest of hair on top of their head, which varies in size and shape between individuals but always gives them a slightly mischievous, expressive look. Their long tails, partially prehensile, act as balancing tools when leaping through the canopy, though unlike howler monkeys, they don’t use them as a full “fifth limb.”

Behaviorally, crested capuchins are highly intelligent and social. They live in multi-male, multi-female groups of 10–20 individuals, led by a dominant male but with complex social interactions where grooming, alliances, and playful behavior all play important roles. Their diet is broad and opportunistic, ranging from fruits and seeds to insects, frogs, eggs, and even small vertebrates. Like other robust capuchins, they are also known for their tool use—using rocks to crack open nuts, sticks to dig for insects, and leaves as makeshift cups to drink water. This kind of problem-solving behavior makes them one of the smartest New World monkeys.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Brazil

14,400

Official estimate

EN

2015

Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais