Golden Bellied Capuchin

The capuchin, is a medium sized species of monkey that is native to the jungles of Central America and the northern regions of South America. The capuchin is one of the most well known monkeys, particularly in North America, and is thought to be one of the most intelligent monkeys in the world.

The capuchin plays a vital role in the eco-system where the capuchin inhabits, as the capuchin is one of the most effective dispersers of plant and fruit seeds throughout the jungle. The capuchin does this by eating the fruits and berries that grow in the surrounding jungle and the seeds are then put back into the ground in the feces of the capuchin. The capuchin live in troops which generally contain around 20 individual members.

The capuchin tends to live between 15 and 20 years in the wild, in captivity however, the capuchin has been recorded to live until it is more than 50 years old! The capuchin is a highly adaptable mammal and is known to live in all different types of forest in Central and South America. Although the capuchin mainly feeds on fruits and berries, the capuchin also eats insects, plants and even small creatures such as frogs and birds.