Bearded Capuchins Hunt Small Animals When Fruit Is Scarce, Study Finds
On August 26, a study published in PLOS One indicates that in northeastern Brazil, bearded capuchin monkeys, primarily frugivorous, resort to hunting small vertebrates when their plant-based food sources are limited. Over a span of 5,000 hours from May 2006 to December 2010, researchers documented 446 instances of these monkeys eating birds, lizards, rodents, opossums, snakes, iguanas, bats, and bird eggs. Co-author Susana Carvalho from Gorongosa National Park observed that both adult and juvenile males engage in hunting more frequently, often prioritizing the consumption of brains and guts. This behavior may shed light on the dietary adaptations of early humans during periods of food scarcity. The study was conducted at Fazenda Boa Vista, with contributions from Noemi Spagnoletti of Sapienza University of Rome.
Key facts
- Study published in PLOS One on August 26.
- Bearded capuchins in northeastern Brazil hunt small vertebrates when fruit is scarce.
- Prey includes snakes, opossums, iguanas, bats, rodents, and bird eggs and nestlings.
- Over 5,000 hours of observations from May 2006 to December 2010.
- 446 instances of capuchins eating animals recorded.
- Hunting increases when plant foods are scarce.
- Adult and juvenile males hunt more than females.
- Monkeys eat brains and guts first after successful hunts.
- Behavior may offer clues about human meat-eating evolution.
- Co-author Susana Carvalho suggests fossil record re-analysis.
Entities
Institutions
- PLOS One
- Gorongosa National Park
- Sapienza University of Rome
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Locations
- Brazil
- Fazenda Boa Vista
- Mozambique
- Rome
- Wisconsin