Capuchin monkey

The capuchins are New World monkeys of the subfamily Cebinae. Prior to 2011, the subfamily contained only a single genus, Cebus. However, in 2011 it was proposed to split the capuchin monkeys between the gracile capuchins in the genus Cebus and the robust capuchins in the genus Sapajus. The range of capuchin monkeys includes Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina. The word capuchin derives from a group of friars named the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, an offshoot from the Franciscans, who wear brown robes with large hoods covering their heads. When explorers reached the Americas in the 15th century they found small monkeys who resembled these friars and named them capuchins. When the scientists described a specimen (thought to be a Golden-bellied capuchin) they noted that: "his muzzle of a tanned color,... with the lighter color around his eyes that melts into the white at the front, his cheeks..., give him the looks that involuntarily reminds us of the appearance that historically in our country represents ignorance, laziness, and sensuality." The scientific name of the genus, Cebus, on the other hand, comes from the Greek word kebos, meaning a long-tailed monkey. The species-level taxonomy of this genus remains highly controversial, and alternative treatments than the one listed below have been suggested. In 2011, Jessica Lynch Alfaro et al proposed that the robust cap

chins (formerly the C. apella group) be placed in a separate genus, Sapajus, from the gracile capuchins (formerly the C. capucinus group) which retain the Cebus genus. Other primatologists, such as Paul Garber, have begun using this classification. Genus Cebus White-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons Ecuadorian capuchin, Cebus albifrons aequatorialis Cebus albifrons albifrons Shock-headed capuchin, Cebus albifrons cuscinus Trinidad white-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons trinitatis Cebus albifrons unicolor Varied capuchin, Cebus albifrons versicolor White-faced or white-headed capuchin, Cebus capucinus Kaapori capuchin, Cebus kaapori Wedge-capped capuchin, Cebus olivaceus Genus Sapajus Black-capped, brown or tufted capuchin, Sapajus apella Guiana brown capuchin, Sapajus apella apella Sapajus apella fatuellus Large-headed capuchin, Sapajus apella macrocephalus Margarita Island capuchin, Sapajus apella margaritae Sapajus apella peruanus Sapajus apella tocantinus Blond capuchin, Sapajus flavius* Black-striped capuchin, Sapajus libidinosus Sapajus libidinosus juruanus Sapajus libidinosus libidinosus Sapajus libidinosus pallidus Sapajus libidinosus paraguayanus Black capuchin, Sapajus nigritus Sapajus nigritus cucullatus Sapajus nigritus nigritus Crested capuchin or robust tufted capuchin, Sapajus nigritus robustus Golden-bellied capuchin, Sapajus xanthosternos * Rediscovered species