| Abstrakt: |
Populations of bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) vary in their tool use behaviors, with some of this divergence regarded as culturally determined. The use of stone tools, primarily to crack open encased foods, is widespread among bearded capuchins living in dry habitats (Caatinga and Cerrado). Significant diversity in targets, processed foods, material, and size of tools is observed across populations. However, so far, only a few sites have been systematically studied, and we are still distant from a representative picture of the range of variation in capuchins' culture. In this study, we did a systematic assessment of stone tool use sites in the Ubajara National Park (UNP), in the Caatinga region of Ceará, Brazil, recording and measuring stone tools, processed foods, and available lithic resources as part of an extensive comparative research, the CapCult project. We found indirect and direct evidence that capuchin monkeys at UNP customarily use hammerstones and anvils to process at least two species of palm nuts, macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) and the harder babaçu (Attalea speciosa). Most of the anvils were rock surfaces and had leftovers of only one palm nut species. The hammerstones used to process both palm nuts were not significantly different in weight, although the ones used for Ac. aculeata were longer. We found a higher frequency of nut‐cracking sites in the drier lowland area of the park, reflecting differences in the density of the most common palm species, Ac. aculeata, and availability of raw stone material. The stone tool use observed in UNP is within the scope of previously reported in savannah capuchin populations. Our study widens the knowledge of stone tool‐use diversity in wild capuchin monkeys, which could contribute to shaping conservation policy, including cultural traits. Research highlights: Populations of bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) vary in their tool use behaviors, with some of this divergence regarded as culturally determined. Significant diversity in targets, processed foods, material, and size of tools is observed across populations.We systematically surveyed stone tool use sites in the Ubajara National Park (UNP), Brazil, recording and measuring stone tools, processed foods, and available lithic resources.We found evidence that capuchin monkeys at UNP use hammerstones and anvils to customarily crack open at least two species of palm nuts, macaúba, and the harder babaçu. However, the hammerstones used to process both nuts were not significantly different in weight.Our study widens the knowledge of stone tool‐use diversity in wild capuchin monkeys, which could contribute to shaping conservation policy, including cultural traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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