Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cebidae
- Genus
- Sapajus
Habitat
Black-striped capuchins primarily inhabit dry forests, savannas, and caatinga woodlands in northeastern Brazil. They prefer areas with a mix of trees for shelter and open spaces for foraging. These habitats are typically tropical and semi-arid, allowing for year-round activity.
Diet
They are omnivorous, consuming fruits, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates like lizards and birds' eggs. Black-striped capuchins forage in groups during the day, often using tools such as stones to crack open nuts. Feeding activity peaks in the early morning and late afternoon when food sources are abundant.
Behavior
They live in social troops of 10-30 individuals with a clear dominance hierarchy led by an alpha male. Black-striped capuchins are diurnal, spending their days foraging, grooming, and playing, while being territorial and using vocalizations to defend their range. They exhibit advanced behaviors like tool use for extracting insects from bark and cooperative hunting for small prey.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, but populations are declining due to habitat loss from deforestation. Major threats include agriculture expansion and the pet trade.