Quick answer
Key facts about capuchin monkey — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Stone tool use
White-faced capuchins select hammer stones and anvils to crack hard palm nuts — one of the best-documented wild tool traditions among monkeys. Skills are learned over years from elders.
Social intelligence
Capuchins cooperate, deceive, and trade grooming for food access. Their brain-to-body ratio rivals great apes on some cognitive tests.
Pet trade harm
Capuchins sold as pets become aggressive adults needing social groups and mental stimulation. Most end up in sanctuaries after biting owners.
Ecological role
As seed dispersers and insect predators, capuchins influence forest regeneration. Protected areas in Costa Rica and Panama offer reliable wild viewing.