USE OF A TOOL-SET BY CAPUCHIN MONKEYS (CEBUS-APELLA)

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of a tool-set by capu chin monkeys (Cebus apella). Capuchins were presented with an apparatu s designed to accommodate the use of pounding tools to crack walnuts a nd the use of probing tools to loosen and extract the inner meat. Thre e capuchins used stones and sticks sequentially for these purposes. Th e capuchins' behavior was similar in form and function to behavior tha t has been reported for chimpanzees in analogous situations. These res ults provide further evidence of the extensive tool-using capabilities of capuchin monkeys and are consistent with a hypothesis of cross-spe cies continuity in the skillful use of tools by primates.