The manifold use of pounding stone tools by wild capuchin monkeys of Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil

Wild capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil, exhibit a uniquely diverse use of pounding stone tools (PSTs), surpassing other known populations. Unlike most capuchins that primarily use PSTs to open hard palm nuts, these monkeys employ them for multiple purposes: cracking seeds and fruits, breaking or enlarging holes in tree trunks or rocks, pulverizing pebbles, and sequentially with probe stick tools to access hidden prey. The study suggests active selection of larger stones, indicating a sophisticated tool choice behavior. This research highlights the remarkable cognitive flexibility and adaptability of these capuchins, offering new insights into their behavioral ecology.

Falótico, T., & Ottoni, E. B. (2016). The manifold use of pounding stone tools by wild capuchin monkeys of Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil. Behaviour, 153(4), 421–442. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003357