Kinematics and Energetics of Nut-Cracking in Wild Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) in Piaui, Brazil

Autor(es)

Liu, Q. ^[1] ; Simpson, K. ^[2] ; Izar, P. ^[3] ; Ottoni, E. ^[3] ; Visalberghi, E. ^[4] ; Fragaszy, D. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Georgia, Dept Psychol, Athens, GA 30602 - USA

^[2] Univ Georgia, Dept Kinesiol, Athens, GA 30602 - USA

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psychol, Dept Expt Psychol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] CNR, Ist Sci & Tecnol Cogniz, Rome - Italy

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY; v. 138, n. 2, p. 210-220, FEB 2009.
• Citações Web of Science: 40

Resumo

Wild bearded capuchins (Cebus libidinosus, quadrupedal, medium-sized monkeys) crack nuts using large stones. We examined the kinematics and energetics of the nut-cracking action of two adult males and two adult females. From a bipedal stance, the monkeys raised a heavy hammer stone (1.46 and 1.32 kg, from 33 to 77% of their body weight) to an average height of 0.33 m, 60% of body length. Then, they rapidly lowered the stone by flexing the lower extremities and the trunk until the stone contacted the nut. A hit consisting of an upward phase and a downward phase averaged 0.74 s in duration. The upward phase lasted 69% of hit duration. All subjects added discernable energy to the stone in the downward phase. The monkeys exhibited individualized kinematic strategies, similar to those of human weight lifters. Capuchins illustrate that human-like bipedal stance and large body size are unnecessary to break tough objects from a bipedal position. The phenomenon of bipedal nut-cracking by capuchins provides a new comparative reference point for discussions of percussive tool use and bipedality in primates. Am J Phys Anthropol 138:210-220, 2009. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/51577-2 - Socioecologia de macacos-prego (Cebus libidinosus) em área de ecótono Cerrado/Caatinga
• Beneficiário: Patrícia Izar Mauro
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular