Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin, Cebus trinitatis
TRINIDAD WHITE-FRONTED CAPUCHIN
Cebus trinitatis
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
The Trinidad white-fronted capuchin is found within two main areas on the island of Trinidad: the protected Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary and Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. They can also be found in adjacent unprotected areas, such as the Nariva Swamp. They prefer primary forests (those that are undisturbed by humans), but can also be found in various types of secondary forests (those that have naturally regrown after a period of human-caused disturbance). Compared to other capuchin species, they tend to prefer moister and less disturbed forest habitats.
The American Society of Mammalogists considers the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin to be the same species as the Venezuelan brown capuchin (C. brunneus). At the same time, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System classifies them as a subspecies of the Humboldt’s white-fronted capuchin (C. albifrons). For the sake of this profile, the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin will be recognized as a single, unique species, as determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group.
Once upon a time, all capuchins were classified in the genus Cebus, or gracile (slenderly-built) capuchins. In 2012, capuchins were subdivided into two genera: the robust (or tufted) capuchins (genus Sapajus), and the gracile capuchins. The Trinidad white-fronted capuchins are now proud members of the gracile capuchin monkey genus!
Size, Weight, and Lifespan
The Trinidad white-fronted capuchin has an average head-and-body length of 15 inches (37 cm) and an average tail length of 17 inches (42 cm). The average weight of adult individuals is 5.5-11 pounds (2.5-5 kg), with males weighing more than females. This difference in weight is an example of sexual dimorphism (noticeable physical differences between genders).
The species has been little studied, so much information on them is lacking including their lifespan. Other capuchin species tend to live 15-25 years in the wild.
Appearance
The Trinidad white-fronted capuchin can be easily described with two words: creamy and cute! Aside from their “naked” face, hands, and feet, they are covered in a fur coat which is tan to light brown on the back, and sport a white face and chest. The eyes are chocolate brown.
They are slender, with long limbs enabling them to travel around their tree-dominated habitat with remarkable agility and grace. The tail is prehensile, acting as a fifth limb allowing them to balance and grab onto branches and navigate the habitat with ease. When foraging, they can use their strong tails to brace the weight of their bodies, allowing them to hang upside down.
Diet
Like all capuchins, the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin is an omnivore, eating both plant and animal material. Their diet includes seeds, insects and larvae, fruit, flowers, young leaves, young birds, eggs, and invertebrates.
Behavior and Lifestyle
The Trinidad white-fronted capuchin, like all capuchins, is generally diurnal (active during the day) and primarily arboreal (tree-dwelling). They are most commonly seen early in the morning when they can be found foraging for food in the middle canopy of the forest or on the forest floor.
Very few studies have been conducted specifically on the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin. This includes specifics regarding their behavior and lifestyle. If we look at other species of white-fronted capuchins, it can be presumed that much of the day is spent foraging for food in groups, while nights are spent sleeping upon the branches of the trees. Like other capuchins, the primary mode of locomotion is quadrupedalism, htat is moving on four limbs, though they may also be capable of standing and walking upright.
Potential predators of the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin include humans. While they are not always directly targeted, population numbers are affected due to the high traffic of hunters, dogs, and firearm discharges within the habitat. Natural predators likely include snakes and birds of prey. While studies of this species of capuchin are again, lacking, it can assumed that, like other capuchin monkeys, they utilize an array of defense techniques to avoid predation. These may include emitting alarm calls which may vary depending upon the type of predator, remaining vigilant while foraging by staying close together in groups, spending most of their time in the trees to avoid ground-based predators, using their natural agility to beat a hasty retreat, using their natural coloration to act as camouflage which allows them to blend in with their tree-based habitat, and selecting habitats that offer better protection from predators, such as dense forests, with plenty of cover and escape routes. Based on observation, what is known for certain is that males will form coalitions to defend against potential predators.
A tea party with leafy cups: Trinidad white-fronted capuchins have been infrequently seen using leaves as cups to drink water from tree cavities.
Trinidad white-fronted capuchins live in multi-male multi-female troops that can average 8-17 individuals. Troops usually have more females than males, but one dominant male is typically the leader. Males will typically leave their birth troop upon reaching maturity to form a troop of their own or join an unrelated troop, while females remain in their natal troop for their entire lives.
Home ranges are typically large, usually over 198 acres (80 ha). Urine washing has been commonly observed among this species, likely to mark territorial boundaries. Individuals will wash their hands and feet with urine and move around their home range as a means of establishing boundaries between groups. It may sound gross, but it works!
With regard to primate associates, the species has been observed occupying fig trees alongside Colombian red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus).
Once again, due to the lack of studies focusing specifically on the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin, much information on their daily lives is lacking and must be inferred from what we know about other capuchin species.
As is true of other species of capuchin monkeys, the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin likely possesses a large communication repertoire, including body movements, touching, facial expressions, and vocalizations. Once again, very few studies on the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin have been conducted regarding this repertoire, but inferences can be made based on other capuchin species:
As is the case with all capuchins, grooming plays a large part in maintaining strong social bonds among the group. All members groom one another as a means of bonding and reaffirming their status within the group.
If a group member ever becomes lost, contact calls (such as “arrh”) may be used to locate the group. These contact calls may also be used by females to signal that the group should move in a different direction.
Various calls are used to communicate specific meanings, including to make contact with one another or to warn about a predator.
Eye poking (!) can be used to determine if they can trust another member of the group during a confrontation.
Like other species of capuchins, the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin is polygamous, meaning males and females mate with multiple members of the opposite gender.
A particular breeding season has yet to be determined, if one exists. However, it appears that the majority of births occur in the dry season. After a five month gestation (pregnancy) period, females give birth to a single offspring, upon which she postpones further mating for one to one and a half years in order to care for her infant. An infant nurses for an average of eight months, and maintains a tight grip on Mom until the individual is strong enough to explore solo. When infants are under two years of age, they are fed, nursed, and cared for by Mom, as well as other females, in the troop (a process known as alloparenting or allomothering). Infants and juveniles are curious and playful and will engage in play behavior with all members of the troop.
Once again, studies, and thus, precious information about the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin are lacking. It can be presumed that, similar to other capuchin species, sexual maturity is reached at around four years of age. Upon reaching this milestone, females will stay with their natal troop, while males will leave to form a troop of their own or attempt to join another one.
As fruit-eaters, Trinidad white-fronted capuchins aid in the regeneration of their forest habitats by dispersing seeds through their feces as they move around the habitat. They also play a role in pollination. Like bees and butterflies, they collect pollen from flowers when consuming them. They then deposit the pollen on each subsequent flower they visit, thereby pollinating the plants. In addition, they may serve as pest controllers, since a portion of their diet is made up of insects and their larvae. Finally, as a prey species, they also play a role in feeding local predators within their range.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin as Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021), appearing on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
They have a very restricted range on the island of Trinidad. As of March 2021, the total population is estimated to be fewer than 50 mature individuals, split between two protected areas.
Historical threats to the species’ survival include habitat loss and degradation (especially from illegal logging) as well as targeted hunting as crop pests and for pets. This targeted hunting has decreased, however, the constant encroachment of hunters and their dogs and guns into the capuchin’s habitat still poses a threat to their survival. Habitat degradation has been another historical driver of population decline of the species, and currently, the continued expansion of human habituation and development has cut off the protected areas in which this unique capuchin lives from possible migration to other island sites.
The Trinidad white-fronted capuchin is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international agreement between governments whose goal is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
This species of capuchin monkey is found in two protected areas on the island of Trinidad: the Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 16,020 acres (6,483 ha) in the southeast, and the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 3,830 acres (1,550 ha) in the western part of the island.
Research is needed regarding the behavior, lifestyle, and ecology specifically of this little-studied species. Additional conservation actions needed include creating “wildlife corridors” for the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin to move from their protected habitats to other potential “safe havens” on the island, as well as public awareness regarding the plight of the capuchin to locals. Following public education, any necessary and/or helpful actions must be enacted to regulate the expansion of human settlements near protected areas so that the Trinidad white-fronted capuchin stands a chance of surviving the plight of extinction.
- https://www.alltheworldsprimates.org/Members/Home/MasterPrimate.aspx?tid=1395
- https://animalia.bio/white-fronted-capuchin
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_monkey
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_white-fronted_capuchin
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-fronted_capuchin
- https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4085/115560059
- https://www.nurturenaturett.org/trade-insights-capuchins
- https://www.planning.gov.tt/sites/default/files/Trinidad%20White%20Fronted%20Capuchin%20Legal%20Notice%20No.%20180%20of%202022.pdf
Written by Sienna Weinstein, September 2024