Patterns of individual diet choice and efficiency of foraging in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus).

Abstract

Capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) exhibit extensive intragroup variability in foraging and diet. To consider how age, sex, and individual identity contribute to this variability, the authors examined foraging and diet in 18 wedge-capped capuchin monkeys in 1 social group in the wild. Age-sex classes did not differ in the time spent ingesting food, the reliance on plant foods, the foraging actions used or substrates exploited, or in the efficiency of exploiting animal foods. They did differ, however, in the time spent finding food, time devoted to animal foods and to vigorous foraging, and the efficiency of foraging. The sexes differed more than age groups. Individual differences within age-sex class were less extensive than expected and were more evident in juveniles than adults. Within-group variability in foraging reflected catholic selection and equivalent treatment of substrates by all individuals, rather than individual specializations.