Kaapori capuchin
Kaapori capuchin[1] | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Haplorhini |
Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
Family: | Cebidae |
Genus: | Cebus |
Species: | C. kaapori
|
Binomial name | |
Cebus kaapori Queiroz , 1992 | |
Geographic range in eastern Brazil |
The Kaapori capuchin (Cebus kaapori), also known as the Ka'apor capuchin, is a species of frugivorous, gracile capuchin endemic to the Brazilian Amazon. Their geographical home range is relatively small and is within the most densely populated region of the Amazon. With the strong human presence nearby,C. kaapori has had to deal with very large amounts of disturbances to their habitat and is one of the most endangered of the neotropical primates.
Taxonomy
First described by Helder Queiroz in 1992, C. kaapori was considered a subspecies for a long time.[3] At the time of his discovery, Queiroz noted its similarities with the members of the C. olivaceus species.[2] After analyzing their genetic makeup, researchers Harada and Ferrari argued that the Ka'apor capuchins should be considered a subspecies of the latter.[2] However, due to various morphological and molecular evidence, the species is currently deemed a valid species in its own right.[2]
Physical characteristics
Part of the genus of gracile capuchin monkeys, the ka'apor capuchin tend to have longer limbs in comparison to their body size as opposed to members of the
Habitat and distribution
The Ka'apor capuchin has been described as having one of the smallest geographical ranges of any other
Behavior
Diet
Like most capuchins, the Kaapori capuchin is diurnal, arboreal and omnivorous.[3] While they are omnivores, C. kaapori seem to rely heavily on fruit for nutrition. One study of the species in the wild concluded that almost 75% of their diet was composed of fruit matter such as fruit pulp or the aril of immature fruit.[3] Other sources of nutrition which came up often in the study were arthropods (12.6%) and seeds (10.2%).[3] From their research, the scientists concluded that the Ka'apor capuchins' diet resembles most closely that of the Sapajus genera than their fellow Cebus species.[3] When foraging for insects, the capuchins can be observed practicing various techniques such as extracting their prey from leaves by breaking them manually, breaking branches with their teeth and hands in order to reach the ants inside and smashing snails against trees in order to crack their shells open.[3]
Social structures and mating
The species is generally found living in small groups of less than 10 individuals, sometimes even alongside
Threats
The species is among the most threatened primates in the Amazon.[9][7] As of 2017, the population of C. kaapori has decreased by over 80% and is categorized as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.[7] There are many reasons as to why the species is so at risk. Some researchers believe that the species is naturally rare, and that they seem to be very sensitive to even a slight disturbance in their habitat.[3][7] This being said, their habitat has been more than slightly disturbed; with the strong human presence nearby comes great deforestation and environmental disturbances.[3] Over 70% of the area's forest has been removed; one of the main reasons being for agricultural purposes such as soy plantations and pasture.[3] In 1978, the largest hydroelectric dam in all of Brazil, was built inside the species' home range.[3] This project had devastating repercussions on their habitat; flooding over 2,000 km2 and creating thousands of islands of between 1 and 1,000 hectares in size where land once was.[3] As one could expect, this caused heavy degradation to the surrounding forest, leaving the remaining forest fragmented. As for many other species in the Amazon, the Ka'apor capuchin has also been a victim of hunting and poaching.[7] One major concern for conservation of the species is the fact that so little standardized research has been done on the topic thus, in order to be able to protect them adequately we need to understand them more thoroughly.[10]
References
Cebus kaapori
(Kaapori Capuchin).
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ S2CID 5531277.
- ^ S2CID 18840598.
- ^ ISSN 0006-3207.
- ^ de Carvalho Junior, O.; Pinto, A. C. B.; Galetti, M. (June 1999). "New Observations on Cebus kaapori (Queiroz, 1992) in eastern Brazilian Amazonia". Neotropical Primates. 7: 41–43.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Buss, G.; Queiroz, H.; Melo, F. R.; Talebi, M.; Jerusalinsky, L. (2017). Cebus kaapori (Queiroz, 1992). In: Schwitzer, C.; Mittermeier, R.A.; Rylands, A. B.; Chiozza, F.; Williamson, E. A.; Macfie, E.J.; Wallis J.; Cotton, A. (eds.). Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2016–2018. 88-90.
- ^ "Animal Info - Ka'apor Capuchin Monkey". www.animalinfo.org. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
- ^ Lopes, M. A.; Ferrari, S. F. (1993). "Primate conservation in eastern Brazilian Amazonia" (PDF). Neotropical Primates. 1 (4): 8–9.
- S2CID 14778572.