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White Faced Capuchin

White-faced capuchin monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa RicaA group of White Faced CapuchinsWhite faced capuchinWhite Faced CapuchinsWhite-faced Capuchin monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
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White Faced Capuchin Facts

Kingdom:
Five groups that classify all living things
Animalia
Phylum:
A group of animals within the animal kingdom
Chordata
Class:
A group of animals within a pylum
Mammalia
Order:
A group of animals within a class
Primates
Family:
A group of animals within an order
Cebidae
Genus:
A group of animals within a family
Cebus
Scientific Name:
The name of the animal in science
Cebus Capucinus
Type:
The animal group that the species belongs to
Mammal
Diet:
What kind of foods the animal eats
Omnivore
Size:
How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is
35-45cm (13.8-18in)
Weight:
The measurement of how heavy the animal is
2.9-3.9kg (6.4-8.6lbs)
Top Speed:
The fastest recorded speed of the animal
56km/h (35mph)
Lifespan:
How long the animal lives for
16-40 years
Lifestyle:
Whether the animal is solitary or sociable
Troop
Conservation Status:
The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct
Least Concern
Colour:
The colour of the animal's coat or markings
Black, White, Grey
Skin Type:
The protective layer of the animal
Hair
Favourite Food:
The preferred food of this animal
Fruit
Habitat:
The specific area where the animal lives
High tropical forests and wet lowland regions
Average Litter Size:
The average number of babies born at once
1
Main Prey:
The food that the animal gains energy from
Fruit, Leaves, Insects
Predators:
Other animals that hunt and eat the animal
Human, Snakes, Eagles
Special Features:
Characteristics unique to this animal
White markings on face and long tail

White Faced Capuchin Location

Map of White Faced Capuchin Locations
Map of South America

White Faced Capuchin

The white faced capuchin, also known as the white headed capuchin and the white throated capuchin, is a medium sized species of monkey that is native to the jungles of Central America and the northern regions of South America.

The white faced capuchin is one of the most well known monkeys, particularly in North America, and the white faced capuchin is thought to be one of the most intelligent monkeys in the world with the white faced capuchin being best known as a companion for organ grinders and are also used to assist people that are paraplegic.

The white faced capuchin plays a vital role in the eco-system where the white faced capuchin inhabits, as the white faced capuchin is one of the most effective dispersers of plant and fruit seeds throughout the jungle. The white faced capuchin does this by eating the fruits and berries that grow in the surrounding jungle and the seeds are then put back into the ground in the feces of the white faced capuchin.

The white faced capuchin live in troops which generally contain around 20 individual white faced capuchin members. The white faced capuchin tends to live between 15 and 20 years in the wild, in captivity however, the white faced capuchin has been recorded to live until it is more than 50 years old!

The white faced capuchin is a highly adaptable mammal and is known to live in all different types of forest in Central and South America. Although the white faced capuchin mainly feeds on fruits and berries, the white faced capuchin also eats insects, plants and even small creatures such as frogs and birds.

Within a white faced capuchin troop, there tend to be more female white faced capuchin members than males and as with many other species of sociable primates, the white faced capuchin troop generally has an alpha male member whose primary role is to breed with the female members and to protect their troop.

White faced capuchin troops are not thought to be highly territorial as they spend a great deal of their time on the move. On average a white faced capuchin will travel 2 km every day but there always seems to be conflict when faced with a different troop of white faced capuchin monkeys.

View all 27 animals that start with W.

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First Published: 18th February 2009, Last Updated: 10th September 2018

Sources:
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 18 Feb 2009]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010]
4. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 18 Feb 2009]
5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 18 Feb 2009]
6. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 18 Feb 2009]