Anointing variation across wild capuchin populations: a review of material preferences, bout frequency and anointing sociality in Cebus and Sapajus

Abstract

The frequency of anointing bouts and the materials used for self- and social anointing vary across capuchin species in captivity, but there is little published data on capuchin anointing in the wild. Here we present previously unpublished data on anointing behaviors from capuchin monkey populations at ten different field sites and incorporate these data into a review of the anointing literature for captive and wild capuchins. Using a comparative phylogenetic framework, we test four hypotheses derived primarily from captive literature for variation in anointing between wild untufted capuchins (Cebus) and tufted capuchins (Sapajus), including that (1) the frequency of anointing is higher in Cebus, (2) Cebus uses a higher proportion of plant species to insect species for anointing compared with Sapajus, (3) anointing material diversity is higher in Cebus, and (4) social indices of anointing are higher in Cebus. We found that wild Cebus anoints more with plant parts, including fruits, whereas wild Sapajus anoints more with ants and other arthropods. Cebus capucinus in particular uses more plant species per site for anointing compared with other capuchins and may specialize in anointing as an activity independent from foraging, whereas most other capuchin species tend to eat the substances they use for anointing. In agreement with captive studies, we found evidence that wild Cebus anoints at a significantly higher frequency than Sapajus. However, contrary to the captive literature, we found no difference in the range of sociality for anointing between Cebus and Sapajus in the wild. We review anointing in the context of other Neotropical primate rubbing behaviors and consider the evidence for anointing as self-medication; as a mechanism for enhanced sociality; and as a behavioral response to chemical stimuli.

Object grasping and manipulation in capuchin monkeys (genera Cebus and Sapajus)

“…Capuchins are medium-sized New World monkeys that usually spend a great deal of time in active manipulation to search for food and to prepare it for ingestion (Fragaszy et al, 2004b). Capuchins species were formerly identified as the single genus Cebus, whereas currently they are classified in two distinct genera, with the robust (tufted) forms now recognized as the genus Sapajus and the gracile (untufted) forms retained as the genus Cebus (Lynch Alfaro et al, 2012). In this paper, we report findings on grasping and manipulation in capuchins by referring to species names, when available, in accordance with their current taxonomy.…”

Manual skills for processing plant underground storage organs by wild bearded capuchins

“…Capuchins also rubbed USOs using the contralateral hand/arm as a brushed surface. Rubbing a food on its own body is reminiscent of self‐anointing, a behavior in which capuchins and other taxa rub items such leaves, fruits and invertebrates on their bodies (for reviews see Alfaro et al, and Peckre, Defolie, Kappeler, & Fichtel, ). Self‐anointing and USOs rubbing are functionally different since self‐anointing aims to leave something on the body, whereas rubbing USOs aims to remove something inedible from the food.…”

Wild bearded capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus) select hammer tools on the basis of both stone mass and distance from the anvil

“…Recent molecular analysis has revealed that capuchin monkeys, formerly identified as the single genus Cebus, are two genera, with the robust forms (including libidinosus, xanthosternos, and several other species) now recognized as the genus Sapajus, and the gracile forms retained as the genus Cebus (LynchAlfaro et al 2011Alfaro et al , 2012. To date, tool use has been observed in some species of wild Sapajus, but no species of wild Cebus.…”