Colombian white-faced capuchin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colombian white-faced capuchin |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Cebus
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| Species: |
capucinus
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| Distributions of Cebus capucinus (red) and Cebus imitator (blue). C. capucinus is found in eastern Panama as well as South America. | |
The Colombian white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus) is a cool, medium-sized monkey from the Americas. People also call it the Colombian white-headed capuchin or Colombian white-throated capuchin. It lives in the wild in eastern Panama and the northwestern parts of Colombia and Ecuador in South America.
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Meet the Capuchin Monkey
This monkey is part of a group called New World monkeys. These monkeys live in Central and South America. The Colombian white-faced capuchin belongs to the Cebus genus. This group includes all the capuchin monkeys. A famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus first described this monkey in 1758.
Different Kinds of White-faced Capuchins
For a long time, scientists thought the Panamanian white-faced capuchin was the same species. It was seen as a subspecies of the Colombian white-faced capuchin. But in 2012, a study showed they are actually different species. They split apart about 2 million years ago!
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Colombian white-faced capuchin:
- C. c. capucinus: This type lives on the mainland of South America and Panama.
- C. c. curtus: This type lives on Gorgona Island, which is off the Pacific coast of Colombia. It's sometimes called the Gorgona white-faced capuchin.
What Do They Look Like?
Capuchin monkeys get their name from a group of monks called Capuchin friars. This is because the monkeys' head colors look a lot like the monks' hoods.
These monkeys have black fur on their bodies, tails, legs, and the top of their heads. But their chests, throats, faces, shoulders, and upper arms are white.
Their head and body are usually between 33 and 45 cm (13 to 18 in) long. Their tails are a bit longer, from 35 to 55 mm (1.4 to 2.2 in). Male capuchins are bigger than females. Males weigh about 3 to 4 kg (6.6 to 8.8 lb). Females are smaller, weighing between 1.5 and 3 kg (3.3 to 6.6 lb). The C. c. curtus type from Gorgona Island has a shorter tail.
Where Do They Live?
The Colombian white-faced capuchin lives in a narrow strip of land. This land is between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. You can find them in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.
Protecting These Monkeys
Sadly, these monkeys face some threats. The C. c. capucinus subspecies is listed as endangered. This means they are at high risk of disappearing forever. The C. c. curtus subspecies is listed as vulnerable. This means they are also at risk, but not as much as the endangered ones. It's important to protect their homes and help these amazing monkeys survive!
See also
In Spanish: Capuchino cariblanco para niños
