White-faced capuchin

One of Central America’s famous monkeys can easily live up to 50 years

Steven G. Johnson

The medium-sized white-faced capuchin is a New World monkey indigenous to Central America’s woods. It is a smart monkey that has been taught to help paraplegic people. It is renowned for its tool usage, including the apparent use of herbal medicine by rubbing plants over its body.

It is also known for utilizing tools as weapons and to reach food. As its popular name suggests, the white-faced capuchin is primarily black, with a pink face and white covering much of the front of the body. It has a characteristic prehensile tail used to support itself while eating under a tree and is often carried coil-up.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Costa Rica
2020
Honduras
2020
Nicaragua
2020
Panama
2020

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Group

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No

White-faced capuchin on banknotes

Costa rica 5,000 Colones (2009)