Primates...

Capuchin Monkey
Cebus ssp
Family: Cebidae Sub-family: Cebinae
Medium-sized New World monkeys with four subspecies, currently none are threatened. C. capucinus - the white faced capuchin is native to Central America and the other capuchin species C. apella – black-capped, brown or tufted capuchins, C. albifrons –cinnamon, white-fronted, or brown pale-fronted capuchins, C. olivaceus (nigrivittatus) - weeping or wedge-capped capuchins are native to South America, ranging throughout the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin and into the Andes. The family Cebidae also contains the squirrel monkeys, and spider monkeys.

Capuchin monkeys have a robust and compact body with limbs proportionate to their body size. They have a prehensile tail capable of supporting their whole weight and hands with opposable thumbs that give them great dexterity when foraging for food. Both male and female capuchins urinate on their hands and then rub the soles of their feet and then rub their fur. This behavior allows them to mark their trails through the forest canopy and probably acts as a territorial marker. Like most other very social primates, play and mutual grooming is important. The groups of 10 - 12 are all led by a dominant male but females will usually mate with any male in the group. Mating is primarily a result of female choice and not of intense male-male competition. A female will give birth approximately once every two years with a gestation period of about 160 days. Females and males reach sexual maturity at 4 - 5 years of age and males reach physical maturity at 6 - 7 years and are generally larger than the females. At maturity, the young males leave their natal groups. Lifespan is 35 - 45 years.

Vocal signals are a major means of communication when the troop is spread over a wide area while foraging for fruits, berries, seeds, vegetation, insects and small mammals. When sources of fruit become scarce, many species of Cebus will increase the number of insects in their diet. Brown capuchins, however, have extremely powerful jaws and tend to specialize on tough palm nuts that the other Cebines can't open.

We have Lucy (right), a female white faced capuchin and a brown capuchin pair, Belle and Kiko. These monkeys have been confiscated so very little is known about them. We understand Belle (above right) is the youngest, was hand raised, and is about 3 years old. She and Lucy get along well. Kiko (top) is a little rambunctious and is housed separately at the moment.

Brown Lemur; Common Brown Lemur
Eulemur fulvus fulvus
Family: Lemuridae
Lemurs are prosimians (lesser primates) and are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Common brown lemurs inhabit the rainforest on the northwest portion of the island. All species of lemurs are listed as endangered due to habitat destruction and deforestation as well as hunting.

Common brown lemurs are brown to dark-grey with light beards and dark faces. Lemur eyes are forward facing with yellow to dark gold irises. They have stereoscopic vision but can not see color due to a lack of cones in the retina. Body length is 14-16 inches long with a 16-20 inch furry tail. Like all lemurs they possess a “dental comb” in which the incisors of the lower mandible protrude at an angle and are used in grooming and scraping bark or tree gums. They also have a grooming claw on the second toe of the hind foot. Semi-opposable thumb and toes are broad and padded to assure a firm grip on branches.

Lemurs are very arboreal animals which move through the trees by following horizontal branches, leaping from tree to tree and using their long tails for balance. They are primarily herbivores feeding on fruit, flowers, buds and leaves. They are both diurnal and crepuscular.

They live in social groups of up to 12 individuals with the males being dominant in this species. Groups feed and sleep within a home range which is marked with excrement. Brown lemurs breed well in captivity and live up to 25 years.

Our group of male lemurs arrived on October 21, 2003. Andy, the common brown lemur was born at St. Paul’s Como Zoo in June 1993.

White-fronted Brown Lemur
Eulemur fulvus albifrons
These lemurs are a sub species of the brown lemur, occupying the extreme northern Madagascar rainforests in the canopy level. They are most active during the early morning and evening, interspersing periods of rest and activity throughout a 24-hour day.

White-fronted lemurs are dark brown with a lighter underside. Males have a cream colored head, ears and beard. Our male, Gandalf, was born in 1992 at the Cincinnati Zoo (Ohio).

Ring-tailed Lemur
Lemur catta
Family: Lemuridae
This lemur's present range is the southwestern portion of Madagascar where it is sometimes kept as a pet, making no attempt to escape. All it needs are warmth and fruit. In the wild it lives in a variety of habitats that are less forested than other lemurs. It loves basking in the sun with legs extended, especially in the morning to absorb heat. “Lemur” means ghost in Madagascar.

The Ring-tailed lemur is one of the more striking lemurs. They are diurnal in habit and tend to be more terrestrial as they do forage and travel on the ground. The 24” tail is not prehensile but plays a significant role in the various positions it assumes and has an important signaling behavior. Ring-tails are the only true lemurs with “stink” glands on the inside of each wrist, and males have one at each armpit. Males and females use a fascinating behavior in territorial disputes. In the territorial display or "stink fight", the tail is pulled across the scent glands then raised in a curve over their heads and shaken in the direction of the intruder. They are also very vocal with up to 15 different calls including a cat like purr when contented.

Females are dominant within a group of up to 30 members. Mutual grooming is important and is done with their teeth. Their average lifespan is 18 years.

Casper was born in June 1988 at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, MN. Casper is very friendly, with yellow eyes and a disfigured left hand. The zoo diet for a lemur is 2 cups chopped fruit and lettuce, leaf-eater biscuits, and vionate on food.

Black-handed Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyi_geoffroyi
Family: Cebidae Subfamily: Atelinae
Black-handed spider monkeys range throughout Central America from Mexico to west Panama. They inhabit rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, and mangrove forests. Spider monkeys are the New World equivalent of the gibbons. They possess long slender arms and legs plus a prehensile tail with a hairless area on the underside that provides them with extreme agility as they swing from branch to branch or feed in the tree canopy. By nature they are diurnal and arboreal and they rarely descend to the ground. They are also capable of moving bipedally across branches. Their fingers are elongated, and the thumbs are reduced or vestigial. The fur is golden brown and they have black hands and feet. Their head and body length is about 2 feet, tail can be up to 3 feet in length, and weight is 13-17 pounds. Average lifespan is 27 years. Gestation period is 210-225 days with the birth of a single infant who will need his mother for 2 years.

Spider monkeys congregate in groups of 4-35 individuals. They tend to be species specific in that they will not interact with other species of spider monkeys in the natural state. Troops patrol their territorial boundaries daily, but there rarely appears to be disputes as troops do not usually go into another's territory. Spider monkeys mainly eat fruits, but they also eat leaves, seeds, flowers, nectar, insects, and small animals including birds and their eggs. Their zoo diet is 4 monkey chow biscuits each, 2 cups chopped fruits and lettuce with vionate.

Although many species of spider monkey are endangered due to habitat destruction, and hunted for food, this particular species is not threatened yet.

Our spider monkeys came to us in July 2003. The group is made up of three sisters and a half brother. Females’ birthdates: Katie 12-11-88, Babs 4-27-92, Kiley 2-12-95, and male Bugaboo 3-15-98.

Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri sciureus
Family: Cebidae Sub-family: Saimirinae
A small-sized New World monkey with wide distribution throughout the tropical forest regions of South and Central America. The genus includes a second species, the Red-backed squirrel monkey of Costa Rica and Panama. Both species include several races recognized by geographical location.

The common squirrel monkey has distinctive facial markings that include the darkened circle around the mouth and nose. Squirrel monkeys rub urine on themselves, which in turn rubs off on branches and foliage thereby marking their territory. Their social structure is organized as segregated groups of adult males, females to include the young and juveniles. Males do not help in raising the young. Males travel and forage separately returning to the main group at nightfall. During the breeding season males remain in proximity to the females, and fights for breeding rights are constant. Prior to the breeding season, males put on weight and become bulky around the chest, shoulders, and head. These monkeys are vocal and constantly let each other know where they are. Lifespan may be to twenty-one years.

Squirrel monkeys feed on fruits, insects, and small animals found in the mid-level canopy of the forest. They are arboreal and rarely come down to the ground. At night the groups come together and reform the troop to sleep. At rest the monkey curls into a ball and their tails wind over a shoulder.

Zoo diet is 2 monkey chow biscuits each in the morning, and chopped mixed fruits in the afternoon and anything else that they can catch. Two monkeys, Bubba (top left) and Aunty (top right), were from a group obtained from NASA in 1995. In November of 2004, three year old Mike – Little Man (left), born July 2001 on Oahu joined the group. Three more monkeys (including Mike’s mother), from the Blue Tropix Nightclub in Honolulu, joined the group in 2005 - 6 year old male Ikaika, and females Lehua and Nani who may be 5 - 7 years old. Unfortunately Lehua succumbed to a parasite and Ikaika to renal failure. Nani (right) however is doing great and is easy to recognize by her right index finger which sticks straight out. Bubba died of old age in March, 2006.

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