Capuchin

capuchin

1. any agile intelligent New World monkey of the genus Cebus, inhabiting forests in South America, typically having a cowl of thick hair on the top of the head

2. a rare variety of domestic fancy pigeon

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Capuchin

a. a friar belonging to a strict and autonomous branch of the Franciscan order founded in 1525

b. (as modifier): a Capuchin friar

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Capuchin

 

(Cebus), a genus of American prehensile-tailed monkey of the Cebidae family.

Capuchins have relatively large, round skulls, with a shortened facial section, moderately long limbs, and a well-developed thumb. The tail is long and covered with hair, and the final third is prehensile. Capuchins inhabit the lush tropical forests of Central and South America, living in trees, chiefly in groups of eight to 30 individuals. They feed on leaves, fruits, nuts, insects, bird eggs, and fledglings. There are several species. The white-throated capuchin (C. capucinus) has black fur on most of its body but yellowish-white fur on the forehead or throat and chest and shoulders, a body length of about 45 cm, and a tail of 40–50 cm. The brown capuchin (C. apella) has a black crest, a body length of 35–45 cm, and a tail of 38–48 cm. Capuchins are often kept in zoos, where they usually reproduce successfully.

REFERENCES

Weber, M. Primaty. Moscow-Leningrad, 1936. (Translated from German.)
Zhizn’ zhivotnykh, vol. 6:Mlekopitaiushchie. Moscow, 1971.

M. F. NESTURKH

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.