Golden-bellied capuchin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden-bellied capuchin |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sapajus
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| Species: |
xanthosternos
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| Geographic range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Cebus xanthosternos |
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The golden-bellied capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos) is a type of New World monkey found in South America. These monkeys are also called the yellow-breasted or buff-headed capuchin because of their unique colors. They spend most of their lives in trees and eat many different kinds of plants and animals.
Golden-bellied capuchins live in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Sadly, they are critically endangered. This means their numbers are very low. Their homes are being lost because forests are cut down for farms and other human activities. Local governments are working to protect these special monkeys.
What Makes Them Special?
Golden-bellied capuchins have a bright yellow to golden-red chest, belly, and upper arms. Their faces are light brown, and the "cap" on their heads is dark brown or black. This cap is why they are called capuchins, as it looks like the hoods worn by Capuchin friars.
These monkeys were once thought to be a type of tufted capuchin. However, scientists now know they are their own species. Unlike some other capuchins, their head tufts are not very noticeable. They have a band of short, speckled hair around their upper face. Their limbs and tail are usually dark in color.
How Big Are They?
Male golden-bellied capuchins are about 40 centimeters (16 inches) tall. They weigh around 4 kilograms (9 pounds). Females are a bit smaller, about 37 centimeters (15 inches) tall and weighing 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds).
Their tails are about the same length as their bodies. These tails are very useful for swinging and climbing through trees. Capuchins also have long fingers and big toes that can grip things, which helps them climb even better.
How Long Do They Live?
In the wild, golden-bellied capuchins usually live for about 15 to 25 years. If they live in zoos or special care facilities, they can live much longer, sometimes up to 50 years!
Where Did They Come From?
Capuchin monkeys, including the golden-bellied capuchin, are believed to have come from a common ancestor. This ancestor lived in the Atlantic Forest. Over time, different types of capuchins, like Sapajus xanthosternos, developed in this forest.
Where They Live
Golden-bellied capuchins only live in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Bahia, Brazil. This is because human activities have greatly reduced their habitat. In the past, they probably lived in a much larger area.
The largest remaining forest area where they live is the Una Biological Reserve in Bahia. About 185 golden-bellied capuchins are thought to live there. As of 2004, there were also about 85 individuals in zoos and breeding centers in Europe and Brazil.
Forest Homes Are Shrinking
The Atlantic Forest, where these capuchins live, is very broken up. Most of the remaining forest pieces are smaller than 50 hectares (124 acres). Some of these forests are saved because they are part of special farms called "cabrucas." These cabrucas mix trees with crops, giving animals like the golden-bellied capuchin a place to live.
However, these small forest pieces are often surrounded by human farms. This can be both good and bad for the capuchins. They might raid crops to find extra food. But this can also lead to more problems and hunting by humans.
For capuchins to survive well, a forest area needs to be quite large, around 400 to 700 hectares (988 to 1730 acres). Right now, only about 2% of the remaining forest pieces are this big. This is a big challenge for protecting them.
How They Behave
Golden-bellied capuchins are mostly arboreal, meaning they live mainly in trees.
Living in Groups
Capuchins live in groups that can have about 3 to 30 monkeys. Each group has a social order, like a ranking system. There is usually an equal number of males and females. The group has an alpha male and an alpha female, who are the leaders. The other monkeys have lower ranks.
The alpha male protects the group's territory from other capuchin groups. Capuchins spend a lot of time grooming each other. This helps them bond and socialize. The alpha monkeys usually get the most grooming. They also do something called "urine washing," where they spread their own urine on themselves. This helps them mark their territory with their scent.
How They Talk
Capuchins communicate using short, frequent yipping sounds, like a small puppy. If they sense danger, they make a two-toned clunking noise to warn others. Many of the sounds capuchins make are similar to bird calls. They also use chemical signals, like scents, to mark their territory and during mating rituals.
Choosing Their Space
Golden-bellied capuchins prefer to use forest areas that offer more cover and protection from predators. They might even avoid areas with lots of food if those areas feel too risky. Their behavior changes depending on the type of forest they are in. For example, they might spread out more in cabruca farms but stay closer together and lower in the trees in secondary forests (forests that have grown back after being cut down). They always try to reduce their risk of danger.
Avoiding Predators
Their coloring helps them blend into their forest home, making it harder for predators to spot them. When capuchins are on the ground or near water, they can be hunted by snakes, large birds of prey, crocodiles, or big meat-eating mammals.
The larger a capuchin group is, the safer they are. This is because more eyes can watch out for danger. If a predator is seen, a capuchin will make an alarm call to warn the others. Capuchins also have a very good sense of smell. This helps them find scent marks left by other groups.
Hunting Threats
Hunting is a major threat to golden-bellied capuchins. It makes it hard for their groups to survive in small forest areas. Hunting is a bigger problem in areas close to human activity, like farms and cabrucas. Capuchins feel more at risk in areas where predators have an advantage, such as places with less tree cover.
What They Eat
Golden-bellied capuchins are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They mostly eat plants like fruits, seeds, flowers, nuts, leaves, and nectar. They also eat insects, bird eggs, frogs, small reptiles, birds, bats, and other small mammals. If they live near the ocean, they might even eat oysters, crabs, or other shellfish. These capuchins have been seen hunting and eating small lizards.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Female capuchins can give birth every two years. Their pregnancy lasts about 150 to 180 days, and they usually have one baby. Newborns depend completely on their mothers for their first year. They become independent around 6 to 12 months old.
Female capuchins are ready to have babies when they are about 7 to 8 years old. Males are ready to mate when they are around 6 to 8 years old.
Mating Habits
Capuchins mate with more than one partner. The alpha male of the group usually gets to choose his mates first. Other males in the group also mate, but the alpha male has the most babies. Females often prefer the alpha male because he provides the most protection for their young.
Capuchins have unique ways to attract a mate. A female might raise her eyebrows, move her head back and forth, touch a male, and then run away while making soft noises. The male will make eye contact and also make noises. Before mating, they might perform a "dance" by jumping and spinning in the air. They continue this dance for a few seconds after mating.
Protecting Them
Their Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the golden-bellied capuchin as critically endangered. This means their population has dropped by more than 50% in the last 50 years. Any remaining places where they live are now protected. The largest protected area is the Una Biological Reserve in Bahia, Brazil, which is home to about 185 capuchins.
Dangers They Face
Golden-bellied capuchins live only in Brazil's rainforests. These forests are in danger from deforestation, which is when trees are cut down for farming and logging. This breaks up the forests into smaller pieces, threatening the capuchins' homes. When groups of capuchins are separated, they can't find new mates, which reduces their genetic diversity. This can lead to an "extinction vortex," where their numbers keep going down. Capuchins are also in danger of being hunted.
Illegal Pet Trade
Golden-bellied capuchins are often captured and sold in the illegal pet trade. When a female capuchin is captured, it has a very negative impact on the group's ability to survive. This is worse than if a male is captured. Baby capuchins might also be sold if their mothers are hunted.
What's Being Done?
There is a special plan in Brazil called the National Action Plan for the Conservation of the Northeastern Primates. This plan aims to protect several endangered primate species, including the golden-bellied capuchin.
