# Golden-bellied capuchin (*Cebus xanthosternos*) The Golden-bellied capuchin is a playful monkey with a bright golden belly! They are very smart and love to swing through the trees in their forest homes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests ![Golden-bellied capuchin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/La_Palmyre_030.jpg&width=800) Photo: William Scot, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Palmyre_030.jpg) ## Appearance The Golden-bellied capuchin has distinctive dark brown to black fur covering most of its body and head, which sharply contrasts with its bright, golden-yellow belly, flanks, and inner limbs. Its face is typically pale, often featuring a darker cap on its crown, making its vibrant underside truly stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cebidae - **Genus:** Sapajus ## Interesting facts - Golden-bellied capuchins can live for over 40 years in captivity, making them quite long-lived! - These clever monkeys sometimes rub plants like citrus on their fur, possibly as insect repellent! - These curious primates even use 'handshakes' or finger-sniffing greetings to bond with troop members! - They often share food with each other, showing strong social bonds within their monkey families! ## Special abilities - **Clever Tool User:** Golden-bellied capuchins can cleverly use sticks and stones as tools to crack nuts or extract insects, showing incredible problem-solving skills. - **Super Sniffer:** Golden-bellied capuchins have a powerful sense of smell that helps them locate hidden food, even ripe fruits concealed under leaves or soil. - **Brainy Builder:** Golden-bellied capuchins have highly dextrous hands, allowing them to manipulate objects with precision, making them adept at foraging. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 33-40 cm - **Weight:** 1.8-3.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 150-180 days ## Diet & Feeding These smart monkeys eat a mix of fruits, nuts, insects, and small animals from the forest. - **Primary Foods:** fruits, nuts, insects, leaves, small vertebrates, seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — Powerful raptor that preys on monkeys in the forest canopy. - **Eaten by:** Boa Constrictor (*Boa constrictor*) — Large snake ambushes capuchins from branches or on the ground. - **Eats:** Guiana Fig (*Ficus guianensis*) — Consumes ripe figs, dispersing seeds throughout their forest habitat. - **Eats:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — Forages for ants and other insects found in bark or leaf litter. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch monkeys from a distance. They are wild animals and can be unpredictable. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Golden-bellied capuchin? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Golden-bellied capuchin? 33-40 cm ### How much does Golden-bellied capuchin weigh? 1.8-3.5 kg ### How long does Golden-bellied capuchin live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Golden-bellied capuchin move? 25 km/h ### What does Golden-bellied capuchin eat? These smart monkeys eat a mix of fruits, nuts, insects, and small animals from the forest. ### Where is Golden-bellied capuchin usually found? Forests ### How does Golden-bellied capuchin hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Golden-bellied capuchin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-bellied-capuchin)