Capuchin climbing a tree. These monkeys are also known as tufted capuchins because of the cap of short black hair that forms two ridges or tufts on either side of their crown. The capuchin monkey derives its name from the Capuchin monk, whose cowl the monkey's hair-pattern resembles.
Capuchins are very smart and are sometimes kept by humans. Because they are easy to train, they are see on TV commercials and movies - including the monkey named "Jack" in Pirates of the Caribbean. They have also been trained to help disabled people. Like seeing eye dogs guide blind people, capuchins act as helping 'hands' for quadriplegics.
Their diet includes fruit, seeds, insects, reptiles, birds and small mammals. With the proper nutrition, they can live up to 40 years.
Brown capuchin monkey Cebus apella
