Description
Scientific name: Cebus apella
Life span: More than 25 years
Tufted capuchin is a brown-colored monkey that has less body weight. The fur color is dark brown, black, and mustard color. The head has fur that is black in color and appears as a crown. They have a tuft of black hairs on their ears. The tail, hands, and feet are all either black or dark brown in color. They are robust species. They have large jaws that help them in eating large size fruits and vegetables. They have prehensile tails that help them in hanging with tree branches.
Native Region/Habitat
Tufted capuchins are endemic to Northern Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, and Venezuela. They inhabit gallery forests, tropical forests, and Secondary and dry forests.
As Pet
Behavior/Temperament
Tufted capuchin is a sociable and very affectionate species. They live in groups of 8- 15 individuals. When a young male reaches sexual maturity, he leaves the group and looks for a new group to mate with. Therefore, females spend their entire lives with the same group making up the core of the group. A dominant male leads the group and takes the major role in defending it against predators and rival monkey groups. The dominant male prefers to attack to defend their territory. it is not as hostile toward opposing soldiers. Social grooming is widespread within the community. In captivity, young children frequently play. They are the only monkeys to interact with things put in their cages. These creatures are perceptive and inquisitive. Capuchins are not suitable for pets. They get hostile while they are at home because they are dissatisfied there. They cannot function well at home without the companionship of other capuchin monkeys and enough room for exercise.
Care/Grooming
The capuchin requires a lot of room so that it may hang from trees and ropes. The enclosure must-have toys, shady areas, fake trees or branches, and ropes for them to jump, play, and swing from. In captivity, they may exhibit violent, irate, and boring behavior. Because these monkeys are more susceptible to illnesses, the cage needs to be secure, sanitary, and hygienic. Despite the best security precautions, an escape by an inquisitive or clever monkey is likely. Strong enclosures must be built for them in order to prevent this for their comfort.
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