Titre du document / Document title

Wild capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) use anvils and stone pounding tools

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

FRAGASZY Dorothy ⁽¹⁾ ; IZAR Patricia ⁽²⁾ ; VISALBERGHI Elisabetta ⁽³⁾ ; OTTONI Eduardo B. ⁽²⁾ ; GOMES DE OLIVEIRA Marino ⁽⁴⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Psychology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GEORGIE
⁽²⁾ Institute of Psychology, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BRESIL
⁽³⁾ Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerch, Rome, ITALIE
⁽⁴⁾ Fundação BioBrasil, Lauro de Freitas, Bahia, BRESIL

Résumé / Abstract

We conducted an exploratory investigation in an area where nut-cracking by wild capuchin monkeys is common knowledge among local residents. In addition to observing male and female capuchin monkeys using stones to pound open nuts on stone anvils, we surveyed the surrounding area and found physical evidence that monkeys cracked nuts on rock outcrops, boulders, and logs (collectively termed anvils). Anvils, which were identified by numerous shallow depressions on the upper surface, the presence of palm shells and debris, and the presence of loose stones of an appropriate size to pound nuts, were present even on the tops of mesas. The stones used to crack nuts can weigh > 1 kg, and are remarkably heavy for monkeys that weigh <4 kg. The abundance of shell remains and depressions in the anvil surface at numerous anvil sites indicate that nut-cracking activity is common and long-enduring. Many of the stones found on anvils (presumably used to pound nuts) are river pebbles that are not present in the local area we surveyed (except on or near the anvils); therefore, we surmise that they were transported to the anvil sites. Ecologically and behaviorally, nut-cracking by capuchins appears to have strong parallels to nut-cracking by wild chimpanzees. The presence of abundant anvil sites, limited alternative food resources, abundance of palms, and the habit of the palms in this region to produce fruit at ground level all likely contribute to the monkeys' routine exploitation of palm nuts via cracking them with stones. This discovery provides a new reference point for discussions regarding the evolution of tool use and material culture in primates. Routine tool use to exploit keystone food resources is not restricted to living great apes and ancestral hominids.

Revue / Journal Title

American journal of primatology   ISSN 0275-2565   CODEN AJPTDU 

Source / Source

2004, vol. 64, n^o4, pp. 359-366 [8 page(s) (article)] (15 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Wiley-Liss, New York, NY, ETATS-UNIS  (1981) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Cognition ; Feeding behavior ; America ; South America ; Vertebrata ; Mammalia ; Brazil ; Field study ; Primates ; Problem solving ; Nuts ; Foraging behavior ; Tool use ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Cognition ; Comportement alimentaire ; Amérique ; Amérique du Sud ; Vertebrata ; Mammalia ; Cebus libidinosus ; Brésil ; Etude sur terrain ; Primates ; Résolution problème ; Fruit sec ; Fourragement ; Manipulation instrument ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Cognición ; Conducta alimenticia ; America ; America del sur ; Vertebrata ; Mammalia ; Brasil ; Estudio en campo ; Primates ; Resolución problema ; Frutos secos ; Conducta abastecimiento ; Manipulación instrumental ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 19099, 35400012118437.0010