Wild capuchin monkeys turn to lizards and snakes when fruit becomes scarce

For most people, monkeys are closely associated with fruit, leaves and insects. But when their preferred plant foods become harder to find, some capuchin monkeys appear willing to switch strategies. They hunt and eat small vertebrates, including mammals and reptiles, turning to animal prey as an important source of energy when fruit availability falls. The behaviour offers a fascinating glimpse into the flexibility of primate diets and may also help scientists think about how early human ancestors gradually expanded their own use of animal foods. A new study published in journal PLOS ONE provides the most extensive record yet of vertebrate predation by wild bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus). The research, conducted by an international team led by Susana Carvalho and colleagues, followed two groups of monkeys in northeastern Brazil over 45 months.