Mammals · Primates · Cebidae

Colombian White-throated Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is regarded as one of the most intelligent New World primates, famous for its tool use and for the complex politics of male coalitions.

Weight

1.5 kg – 4 kg

Size

33 cm – 45 cm

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestOmnivore Diurnal In herds Rainforest Mammal

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Fun facts

It holds the known longevity record for any non-human primate, with one animal living more than 53 years in captivity.
It eats fruit, insects, small vertebrates and seeds.
It lives in wet and dry, primary and secondary forest of Central America and north-western South America.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Wet and dry, primary and secondary forest of Central America and north-western South America, up to 2,100 m
Birth weight: Born precocial, carried on its mother's back for the first 6 weeks
Size at birth: Born precocial
Sexual maturity: Female: ~4 years (a first birth usually at 7) | Male: 7-10 years
Gestation / incubation: 157-167 days (~5-6 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth (twins rare), with ~2 years between births
Lifespan in captivity: A documented record of up to 53.5 years, the longest-lived non-human primate on record

Sources consulted: GBIF (species account); New England Primate Conservancy; Animalia.bio; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; A-Z Animals (White-Faced Capuchin)