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White-faced Monkey feeding on a toxic caterpillar

Cebus capucinus

Published on Project Noah
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10.4932, -83.4892

Field Notes

Description:

This was observed, in Tortuguero National Park, on an International Expedition trip,(Hotelbeds Costa Rica) I lead. A white faced Capuchin, hunt a very toxic caterpillar (Automeris sp), and carefully ate it. I have seen also Azure-hooded Jay eating the same species of caterpillar

Habitat:

New-tropical forest.

Notes:

Those Pictures were taken by a friend. and I have the right to used them

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (20)
Jonathan Sequeira
Son muy especiales, siempre en interacciones increíbles, Gracias Nelson por sus comentarios y bienvenido al proyecto.
Jonathan Sequeira
We now know that it is part of the diet , of this kind of monkey...
Ashish
Nice work Jonathan..True Web of Life..!!
Gina9210
Wow! the pictures tells all the story. It seems there were something special about that caterpillar that two different species eat them.
Jonathan Sequeira
Changes in feeding behavior, is been study in primates, So far I don´t know, I will as a zoologist friend, if he knows some about, I have seen this monkeys using saps to repell some kinds of insects, and treat infections....
monkey-mind and nana-puppet
wow jonathan! stunning pics. the caterpillar seems to be tasty... there has to be a "benefit" of eating them. does the toxin produce some kind of hallucinations? i heard of an observation, some years ago, that an orang utan ate a specific red flower to cure its headache...
Jonathan Sequeira
Thanks, These particular pics of the monkey were taken by a visitor in my expeditions, You are right they are great. I decided to share and post a white faced monkey again , as this observation is very special.
Jonathan Sequeira
Ah With toxic I mean they can produce severe reactions, urticaria, and even fever.
Jonathan Sequeira
Pues si, ellos muestran sus dientes y hacen expresiones para intimidar pero no atacarían. Cuando se enojan sacuden las ramas y pueden hacer caer las ramas secas y eso si puede ser un poco peligroso.
Carolina
Hey que lindo! A mi la verdad me asustan mucho los cariblancos, no los he visto en estado silvestre, pero me dan esa impresión de ser agresivos. Creo que la oruga pensó lo mismo.
Jonathan Sequeira
En las observaciones hechas, vimos que le fue muy bien, de hecho comió mas de una. Fue una gran experiencia.
Carolina
La oruga toxica lo podría matar?
Jonathan Sequeira
By the way, this was my first and only time seeing this type of monkey, eating a caterpillar of this species.

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Mission
Primate Watch
Photographed
PublishedJuly 3, 2011

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