Male-Directed Object Use by Proceptive Female Bearded Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Captivity

Abstract This article presents a novel approach to the study of primate personality and illustrates it with a study of capuchin monkeys. While most personality studies with capuchin monkeys have used rating questionnaires, the research method of this study relies instead on direct behaviour observations. In an effort to capitalize on the full richness of behavioural observation data, we used both statistical and non-statistical methods to analyse data from behavioural observations of a group of capuchin monkeys in captivity. Interest in capuchin monkeys as a species has increased due to their cognitive capacities, behavioural flexibility and complex social structure, as well as many similarities with great apes in dimensions of personality. In this study we focus in three aspects of personality: diversity, flexibility and complexity. Our results provide a detailed picture of these aspects of capuchins’ personality, including the degree of “predictability” and “unusualness” of individual capuchins’ behaviour.

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Hematological profile of captive bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) from Northeastern Brazil

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20180065 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Adriano Fernandes Ferreira ◽

Felisbina Luísa Queiroga ◽

Rinaldo Aparecido Mota ◽

Eneida Willcox Rêgo ◽

Stéphanie Machado Mota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reference Values ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Age Factors ◽

Erythrocyte Count ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Capuchin Monkeys ◽

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽

Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽

Hematological Profile ◽

In Captivity

ABSTRACT: Bearded Capuchin or Black-striped Capuchin monkeys (Sapajus lidibinosus) are New World robust capuchin monkeys widely used in medical research. Few data are available concerning hematological reference values for these species, with no studies available from the Northeast region in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine the hematological reference values for healthy bearded capuchin monkeys and to analyze the influence of sex and age factors. Blood samples were collected from 50 healthy bearded capuchin monkeys housed in captivity. These were analysed for total erythrocyte, hemoglobin, leukocyte and platelet count, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). When considering the age factor, significant differences were reported for total erythrocyte count, PCV, hemoglobin, total leucocytes, band neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes (higher in juveniles). Significant sex-associated differences were noted for total erythrocyte count, PCV, hemoglobin (higher in males) and number of lymphocytes (higher in females).We have reported for the first time the hematological profile of bearded capuchin monkeys in captivity in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. These results can contribute for a better understanding of the normal physiology of capuchin monkeys, while demonstrating that factors such as sex and age influence hematological parameters should be taken into consideration in the hematological evaluation of this species.

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Seasonal Variation in the Testicular Volume of Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella) in Captivity

Folia Primatologica ◽

10.1159/000068394 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 54-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marcelo A. de B. Vaz Guimarães ◽

Cláudio Alvarenga de Oliveira ◽

Renato Campanarut Barnabe

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Cebus Apella ◽

Testicular Volume ◽

Capuchin Monkeys ◽

In Captivity

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Investigation of Cryptosporidium spp. in breeding nucleus of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.)

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v10i11.19459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e310101119459

Author(s):

Thaís Weinstein Barbosa ◽

Sandra Valéria Inácio ◽

Gilberto Chiantinelli Ferreira ◽

José Américo de Oliveira ◽

Sérgio Diniz Garcia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Route ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Capuchin Monkeys ◽

Zoonotic Potential ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

In Captivity ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Plastic Bag ◽

School Of Dentistry ◽

Pathogenic Agents

Animals of the primate order are highly susceptible to parasitic infections due to their social organization, often in groups and interaction between individuals, facilitating the transmission of pathogenic agents, and may be even more prevalent in areas modified by anthropic action. The occurrence of the protozoan Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife animals in captivity or free-living it characterizes great importance of Public Health mainly for its zoonotic potential. This parasite has a cosmopolitan distribution, causes gastrointestinal infection, and its transmission occurs via the fecal-oral route, either through water or through contaminated food. Cryptosporidiosis affects mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, this significant zoonotic potential, in addition to being directly related to the living conditions of the host and the quality of the environment. We investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in primates located at the Tufted Capuchin Monkey Procreation Center (School of Dentistry of Araçatuba - UNESP). Fecal samples from 49 asymptomatic primates of the species Sapajus spp. species were collected below their individual cages, the soil was lined with a plastic bag, thus hindering environmental contamination. The search for oocysts was carried out using the technique of Negative Malachite Green Staining, finding negativity in all samples examined, which suggests the absence of the protozoan Cryptosporidium spp. in primates studied in the breeding center of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.), noting that they were asymptomatic.

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Environmental enrichment for captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) using natural material

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências ◽

10.34019/2596-3325.2018.v19.24767 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Tainara Venturini Sobroza ◽

Vanessa Barbisan Fortes

Keyword(s):

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Extended Period ◽

Natural Material ◽

Capuchin Monkeys ◽

In Captivity ◽

Materials Used ◽

Enrichment Techniques ◽

Body Care ◽

Reducing Stress ◽

Do So

Captive environments are always less complex than natural places, and consequently contain less stimuli for any animals within them, which may be stressful. One approach to reducing stress in captive animals is the application of environmental enrichment techniques. Capuchin monkeys are among the most common primates in captivity, therefore, evaluating the efficacy of environmental enrichment techniques for these species is important. In this study, we evaluated the effects of natural material as environmental enrichment for Sapajus spp. To do so, we compared the behavior of seven individuals when their enclosure was non-enriched and enriched with bamboo, leaf-litter and bromeliads. We found that capuchins reduced the frequency of body care activities and of affiliative interactions when environmentally enriching objects were placed in their enclosure. They also increased time spent in object manipulation and reduced observation of the environment during these periods. Of the three materials used, we consider bamboo the most efficient enrichment material, since it remained intact longer and so attracted capuchin attention for a more extended period, and significantly modified their behavior.

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Individualized Target Training Facilitated Transfer of Group Housed Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus apella) to Test Cubicles and Discrimination of Targets on Computer Touch Screens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11072070 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2070

Author(s):

Sabrina Brando ◽

Lillian Basom ◽

Meredith Bashaw ◽

Caitlin Druyor ◽

Ellen Fonte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Positive Reinforcement ◽

Negative Reinforcement ◽

Group Home ◽

Touch Screen ◽

Capuchin Monkeys ◽

Positive Effects ◽

In Captivity ◽

Sapajus Apella ◽

Unique Shape

Animals in captivity often experience fear, anxiety and aggression during non-voluntary procedures, leading to adverse behaviors and ineffective outcomes for both animals and caretakers. Negative reinforcement and punishment, often due to ignorance regarding animal learning, can hurt animal welfare. However, voluntary participation through positive reinforcement training (PRT) can decrease stress related to these procedures and increase desired behaviors. Our goal was to demonstrate the positive effects of “target training” on animal welfare by training 10 captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) in two experiments designed to facilitate movement from a group home enclosure to a test cubicle. In Experiment 1, each monkey was assigned an individualized target (a unique shape/color combination). In daily training sessions, the animal was rewarded with a click-sounding stimulus and a food reinforcer for (a) touching the target, (b) following the respective target into a test cubicle, and (c) touching progressively smaller targets until progressing to digitized images on a computer touch screen. All 10 animals learned to approach and touch their individual physical target in one or two sessions and were able to successfully transition this behavior to an image of their target on a touch screen, although they made more errors with the touch screen. In Experiment 2, the animals were presented with other animals’ targets and novel targets. The seven animals in this experiment all touched their target at higher-than-chance rates in Trial 1 without explicit discrimination training, but only five reached the learning criteria for the task (>83% correct for three consecutive testing days. These results demonstrate that target training can make voluntary movement from group housing to test cubicles easier and benefit future animal care and procedures.

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