The name “Macaco-Prego” is given to primates of the genus Cebus of the cebidae family, which refer to the species of tamarins and tamarins.
Its scientific name is cepajus robustus. It is also known by popular names such as crested capuchin monkey and crested capuchin monkey.
The taxonomy of capuchin monkeys is comprehensive and has changed numerous times, as the number of species ranged from a single species up to 12 species.
They probably evolved in the Atlantic Forest region and later populated other habitats, such as the Amazon, humid and broadleaf forest, common area of their habitat.
There are numerous fossil records in various locations. Present in South America, from the Amazon regions, to the south of Paraguay and the north of Argentina and throughout Brazil.
It is very common to find this animal in all types of humid forests, in secondary forests or fields. The Atlantic Forest is one of the places that have the most capuchin monkeys, for example.
The capuchin monkey is a very intelligent primate and easily learns tricks. Like using natural tools to obtain food. It has strictly diurnal and arboreal habits.
It adapts to captivity, as is the case of zoos or even as a pet, as is the case of the famous “Twelves”, the capuchin monkey of the Latino singer. However, as it is very active, it can create problems. Sometimes it can be aggressive, but it can also be docile, showing different facial expressions.
He spends most of his time in the trees, where he sleeps and gets food. It only goes down to drink water or in search of some food that is not in the trees.
Its tail, which can measure the same length as the body, is not prehensile, and when the animal moves it curls upwards, in a shape similar to a question mark.
These friendly little animals feed on the things that nature offers. For example, bird eggs, fruit, small vertebrates, seeds, young branches and insects.
Being a very skillful animal, it manages to open hard-shelled fruits, using stones and sticks. They are rustic tools, little used by the rest of the animals. In addition, they often use branches to knock fruit off trees or remove insects from holes.
Sexual behavior consists of the female attracting the male by vocalization and facial movements. Females follow the male for mating for up to 4 days and give preference to males with higher rank in the group.
Its reproductive season extends throughout the year, with a gestation period of approximately 6 months and weaning at 8 months.