Brown capuchin
Sapajus apella apella
Brown capuchins, also called tufted capuchins, are native to the South American countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guiana and Venezuela.
They are very vocal primates, using loud calls, screeches, hisses, whistles, growls and rumbles, with sounds all having different meanings, from a food call to danger alerts.
There are two groups of brown capuchins at Edinburgh Zoo that live in our Living Links enclosure.
As well as being an amazing attraction for our visitors, Edinburgh Zoo's Living Links is a field station and research centre for the study of primates. The centre has been developed in a unique partnership with RZSS and the University of St Andrews.
Population
Decreasing
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Rainforest
Fact file
Brown capuchins typically weigh in at between two – five kg
Group sizes can be up to 30, but average around 18 individuals
These cheeky characters can live up to 45 years in zoos
Brown capuchins use a wide variety of facial expressions to communicate to each other, including raising their eyebrows when flirting with a mate
These monkeys have been seen using tools such as sticks to obtain food
Capuchins love chillies – not for the taste though, they rub them all over themselves as an insect repellent!
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care our brown capuchins are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about our Living Links project