White-headed Capuchin Monkey

The White-headed Capuchin Monkey (Cebus capucinus), also known as the White-faced Capuchin or White-throated Capuchin, is a small New World monkey of the family Cebidae. Native to the forests of South and Central America, White-throated Capuchins are important to rainforest ecology by their role in dispersing seeds and pollen. Like other monkeys in the genus Cebus, White-headed Capuchins are named after the order of Capuchin friars: the cowls worn by these friars closely resemble the monkeys head coloration. White-headed Capuchins have mostly black fur, with white to yellowish fur around the naked, pinkish face and on the shoulders; and, of course, white throats. A V-shaped area of black fur on the crown of the head is distinctive. The tip of the tail is often held coiled, giving White-headed Capuchins the nickname ‘ringtail’. Adults may reach a length of 435 millimetres and a weight of 3.9 kilograms. Their tail is prehensile. Conservation status – Least Concern.