Extraction of hermit crabs from their shells by white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus)

Soley, Fernando G.; Chacón, Iria S.; Soley‐Guardia, Mariano

doi:10.1007/s10329-016-0576-5

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We have yet to find any evidence of stone tool use on the coasts of Coiba or Ranchería (figure 1), but surveys are still underway. Further, many of the resources which capuchins on Jicarón process using stone tools are available to and eaten by other white-faced capuchin populations including hermit crabs [118], halloween crabs (B. Barrett 2017, personal observation), marine snails and coconuts [37]. Fleshy exocarps of T. catappa are consumed by other capuchin groups across Coiba National Park and in Costa Rica [119]—however, capuchins are unable to access the nutritious endocarps without tools.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitual stone-tool-aided extractive foraging in white-faced capuchins,Cebus capucinus

et al. 2018

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Habitual reliance on tool use is a marked behavioural difference between wild robust (genus Sapajus) and gracile (genus Cebus) capuchin monkeys. Despite being well studied and having a rich repertoire of social and extractive foraging traditions, Cebus sp. rarely use tools and have never been observed using stone tools. By contrast, habitual tool use by Sapajus is widespread. We review theory and discuss factors which might explain these differences in patterns of tool use between Cebus and Sapajus. We then report the first case of habitual stone tool use in a gracile capuchin: a population of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus imitator) in Coiba National Park, Panama who habitually rely on hammerstone and anvil tool use to access structurally protected food items in coastal areas including Terminalia catappa seeds, hermit crabs, marine snails, terrestrial crabs and other items. This behaviour has persisted on one island in Coiba National Park since at least 2004. From 1 year of camera trapping, we found that stone tool use is strongly male-biased. Of the 205 camera trap days where tool use was recorded, adult females were never observed to use stone tools, although they were frequently recorded at the sites and engaged in scrounging behaviour. Stone tool use occurs year-round in this population; over half of all identifiable individuals were observed participating. At the most active tool use site, 83.2% of days where capuchins were sighted corresponded with tool use. Capuchins inhabiting the Coiba archipelago are highly terrestrial, under decreased predation pressure and potentially experience resource limitation compared to mainland populations—three conditions considered important for the evolution of stone tool use. White-faced capuchin tool use in Coiba National Park thus offers unique opportunities to explore the ecological drivers and evolutionary underpinnings of stone tool use in a comparative within- and between-species context.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitual stone-tool-aided extractive foraging in white-faced capuchins,Cebus capucinus

et al. 2018

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“…As noted above, site preservation might have an impact on the visibility of tool-use but it is unlikely to obliterate all signs of such behavior. Further, many of the resources which capuchins on Jicarón process using stone tools are available to and eaten by other white-faced capuchin populations including hermit crabs (Soley et al, 2017), Halloween crabs (B. Barrett, personal observation), marine snails and coconuts (Méndez-Carvajal and Valdés-Díaz, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitual Stone-Tool Aided Extractive Foraging in White-Faced Capuchins,Cebus Capucinus

Barrett

Monteza-Moreno

Dogandžić

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Habitual reliance on tool use is a marked behavioral difference between wild robust (genus Sapajus) and gracile (genus Cebus) capuchin monkeys. Despite being well studied and having a rich repertoire of social and extractive foraging traditions, Cebus sp have rarely been observed engaging in tool use and have never been reported to use stone tools. In contrast, habitual tool use and stone-tool use by Sapajus is widespread. We discuss factors which might explain these differences in patterns of tool use between Cebus and Sapajus. We then report the first case of habitual stone-tool use in a gracile capuchin: a population of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus imitator ) in Coiba National Park, Panama who habitually rely on hammerstone and anvil tool use to access structurally protected food items in coastal areas including Terminalia catappa seeds, hermit crabs, marine snails, terrestrial crabs, and other items. This behavior has persisted on one island in Coiba National Park since at least 2004. From one year of camera trapping, we found that stone tool use is strongly male-biased. Of the 205 unique camera-trap-days where tool use was recorded, adult females were never observed to use stone-tools, although they were frequently recorded at the sites and engaged in scrounging behavior. Stone-tool use occurs year-round in this population, and over half of all identifiable individuals were observed participating. At the most active tool use site, 83.2% of days where capuchins were sighted corresponded with tool use. Capuchins inhabiting the Coiba archipelago are highly terrestrial, under decreased predation pressure and potentially experience resource limitation compared to mainland populations-three conditions considered important for the evolution of stone tool use. White-faced capuchin tool use in Coiba National Park thus offers unique opportunities to explore the ecological drivers and evolutionary underpinnings of stone tool use in a comparative within-and between-species context.

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“…These observations might be expected when predation is difficult and high‐risk, requiring speed, coordination and dexterity (Gunst et al, 2008; Gunst, Boinski, et al, 2010; Gunst, Leca, et al, 2010; Stone, 2006; Westergaard et al, 1997). Soley et al (2017) reported greater success with a hard‐to‐process resource with painful defence capacity (hermit crabs) for C. capucinus . In this context, it is interesting to note that the high‐risk, high‐speed attacks on Chartergus require experience and coordination, yet in no case was another animal seen observing the raider.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When food fights back: Cebid primate strategies of larval paper wasp predation and the high‐energy yield of high‐risk foraging

et al. 2023

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Optimal foraging theory predicts that well‐defended potential foods should be exploited only when energy pay‐offs are great. Although stinging hymenopteran nests are both well‐defended and predated by primates, their larvae's energy yields rarely have been calculated, and predation‐linked foraging behaviours by primates infrequently documented. Based on 58 opportunistic observations of primates raiding wasp nests for larvae, we calculated energetic yields of low‐ and high‐risk wasp nest predation for Cebus albifrons, Saimiri collinsi, S. sciureus and Sapajus apella, and tested predictions derived from optimal foraging theory. We recorded how nests were processed and by which age‐sex classes, eaten nest fragment sizes, number of occupied and empty cells, and nest occupancy patterns (percent larvae/pupae, eggs, empty cells). Basal metabolic rate (BMR) calculations showed energetic yields from 15 min foraging on low‐risk nests (Polybia quadricincta) would meet energy needed to sustain adult female and male C. albifrons BMR for 4.9 and 4.5 h, respectively; yields from high‐risk (Chartergus artifex) nests for 6.5 and 6.2 h; Mischocyttarus sp. nest yields (low risk, but mimetically resembling other wasps) would meet S. collinsi BMR for 2.9 h (female) and 2.3 h (male), and 2.6 and 2.1 h, for the slightly larger S. sciureus, respectively. The Chartergus energetic‐yield value is nearly 20% of a 36 g chocolate bar (741 kJ). Our data provide quantitative support for the common assertion that wasp larvae and pupae are high‐yield foods for primates. As predicted by optimal foraging, energetic yield is sufficient to offset the risk and pain of being stung.

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Extraction of hermit crabs from their shells by white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus)

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

Habitual stone-tool-aided extractive foraging in white-faced capuchins,Cebus capucinus

Habitual stone-tool-aided extractive foraging in white-faced capuchins,Cebus capucinus

Habitual Stone-Tool Aided Extractive Foraging in White-Faced Capuchins,Cebus Capucinus

When food fights back: Cebid primate strategies of larval paper wasp predation and the high‐energy yield of high‐risk foraging

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