The capuchins are the group of New World monkeys classified as genus Cebus. Their name comes from their coloration, which resembles the cowls worn by the Capuchin order of Roman Catholic monks. Cebus is the only genus in subfamily Cebinae.

Capuchins' range includes Central America (Honduras) and middle South America (middle Brazil, Paraguay).

Capuchins generally resemble the monks of their namesake. Their body, arms, legs and tail are all darkly (black or brown) colored, while the face, throat and chest are white colored, and their head has a black cap. This general pattern varies from species to species, as well as among individuals within a species. They reach a length of 30 to 56 cm, with tails that are just as long as the body. Their weigh up to 1.3 kg.

Like most New World monkeys, capuchins are diurnal and arboreal. With the exception of a midday nap, they spend their entire day searching for food. At the night they sleep in the trees, wedged between branchs. They are undemanding regarding their habitat and occur in many habitats. Among the natural enemies of the capuchins are large falcons, cats and snakes.

They live together in groups of six to 40 animals. These groups consist of related females, their offspring as well as several males. Usually groups are dominated by a single male, who has primary rights to mate with the females of the group. The mutual grooming as well as vocalization serves as communication and stabilization of the group dynamics. They are territorial animals, distinctly marking a central area of their territory with urine and defending it against intruders, although the outer zones of these areas may overlap.

The diet of the capuchins is more varied than other monkeys in the family Cebidae. They are omnivores, eating both fruits, nuts, seeds and buds as well as insects, spiders, bird eggs and small vertebrate. Capuchins living near water will also eat crabs and shells, which they crack open with stones.

The females bear young every two years after a 160 to 180 day gestation. The young cling to their mother's chest until they are larger, when they move to her back. Adult male capuchins rarely take part in caring for the young. Within four years for females and eight years for males, the juveniles become fully mature. In captivity, individuals have reached an age of 45 years, although in nature the life expectancy is only 15 to 25 years.

Capuchins are considered as the most intelligent New World monkeys and are often used in laboratories. They are also kept as pets, even if the import of these animals is forbidden and animal-rights activists often point out that monkeys are unsuitable as domestic animals. Zoos and circuses often keep capuchins as well. In the wild, capuchins are hard to find due to their shyness and not because of extinciton endangerment. Sometimes they plunder fields and crops and are seen as troublesome. In some regions they have become rare due to the destruction of their habitat.

Classification

• Genus Cebus
  • C. capucinus group
    • White-headed Capuchin, Cebus capucinus
    • White-fronted Capuchin, Cebus albifrons
      • Cebus albifrons albifrons
      • Cebus albifrons unicolor
      • Cebus albifrons cuscinus
      • Cebus albifrons trinitatis
      • Cebus albifrons aequatorialis
      • Cebus albifrons versicolor
    • Weeper Capuchin, Cebus olivaceus
    • Kaapori Capuchin, Cebus kaapori
  • C. apella group
    • Tufted Capuchin, Cebus apella
      • Cebus apella apella
      • Cebus apella fatuellus
      • Cebus apella ?margaritae
      • Cebus apella macrocephalus
      • Cebus apella peruanus
      • Cebus apella tocantinus
    • Black-striped Capuchin, Cebus libidinosus
      • Cebus libidinosus libidinosus
      • Cebus libidinosus pallidus
      • Cebus libidinosus paraguayanus
      • Cebus libidinosus juruanus
    • Black Capuchin, Cebus nigritus
      • Cebus nigritus nigritus
      • Cebus nigritus robustus
      • Cebus nigritus cucullatus
    • Golden-bellied Capuchin, Cebus xanthosternos