Discover the World of Capuchins: Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts About These Clever Monkeys!

1. Crystal, the Movie Star Monkey

From swinging in jungles to stealing scenes on the silver screen: Crystal, a talented tufted capuchin monkey, boasts a star-studded (and banana-peeling) filmography with over 20 movies, including George of the Jungle, the Night at the Museum series, The Hangover Part II, and even a role in Steven Spielberg's 2022 film The Fabelmans as the adorable pet monkey Bennie.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Aromatherapy Fur-rubbing Sessions

Move over, day spa: Capuchin monkeys have discovered the ultimate relaxation and bonding activity. These furry little aromatherapists know the value of a good fur-rubbing session, using pungent plants and onions to not only ward off pesky insects but also to strengthen social connections within the group and boost oxytocin levels, making them calmer and less stressed in the process.
Source => news.gsu.edu

Did you know Tarzan's best friend could be a spider monkey? Discover how their unique tails act as a fifth limb in the jungles of Central and South America!

=> Fun Facts about Spider-Monkeys

3. Stone Age-Style Dining

Who said stone tools were just for cavemen? These pint-sized primates are taking it back to the Stone Age: Capuchin monkeys use hefty stones, some nearly half their body weight, to crack open shellfish, nuts, and more, making them the first in their genus and the fourth group of nonhuman primates observed using stone tools, fueling the curiosity of researchers everywhere.
Source => seattletimes.com

4. Monkeying Around with Money

Move over, Bitcoin! Monkeys are stepping up their game in the world of finance: Capuchin monkeys have been taught to use tokens as a form of currency to exchange for food in experiments, although they haven't quite established their own Wall Street yet.
Source => zmescience.com

5. Treetop CrossFit Enthusiasts

These capuchin monkeys must be bananas about CrossFit: their prehensile tail not only acts as a personal jungle gym, but it also helps to navigate treacherous treetop terrain by gripping onto branches and supporting weight distribution during foraging.
Source => fieldprojects.org

6. Nose-Picking Comedy Club

When capuchin monkeys aren't auditioning as "nose-pickers" and "eye-pokers" at your local zoo's comedy club, they're busy crafting new social interactions as groundbreaking as a late-night stand-up act: These inventive monkeys escalate their social game by inventing new forms of social behavior, such as using a friend's body part to whack enemies or poking their friend's nostril, which then spreads throughout their group, showcasing their dynamic societal structures and vast range of entertaining antics.
Source => socialsciences.ucla.edu

7. Selective Hearing and Seeing

Ever heard of a monkey who's all ears but turns a deaf ear? Well, capuchins fit the bill: These curious primates can locate food rewards using positive auditory cues, but negative sounds just don't ring their bell. It turns out, though, they're more proficient when it comes to positive and negative visual cues, learning from experience to secure the goodies they crave!
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

8. Unusual Bonding Games

Move over, secret handshakes and trust falls: Capuchin monkeys take bonding to a whole new level with their group-specific social rituals, such as hand-sniffing, extensive body part sucking, and engaging in playful biting games, all in the name of strengthening connections within their tight-knit Costa Rican cliques for at least half a year.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov