Hand Preference during Tool Use in Wild Bearded Capuchins

A right-hand preference during tool use was observed in wild bearded capuchins (Sapajus libidinosus) inhabiting the Caatinga forests of Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil. The study recorded 118 tool-use bouts, revealing that digging tools—used to extract tubers or roots—showed a trend toward right-hand dominance, likely due to the motor demands of these tasks. This finding suggests that the harsh Caatinga habitat may drive increased laterality and right-handedness in capuchins, though larger sample sizes are needed for conclusive evidence. The research highlights tool use as a potential driver of limb preference in non-human primates, challenging assumptions about the universality of human-like lateralization patterns.

de A. Moura, A. C. (2015). Hand Preference during Tool Use in Wild Bearded Capuchins. Folia Primatologica, 86(4), 411–419. https://doi.org/10.1159/000438989