Reproduction
C. capucinus are polygamous, meaning one individual can mate
with multiple other individuals. Often times, the Alpha Male of
a group of White-Faced Capuchins had a vast advantage over other
males in a group with how much offspring they produced
(Muniz et
al. 2010). In fact, alpha males on average tend to be the father
of from fifty to eighty percent of the offspring within a group
(Muniz et al. 2006). The females tend to give birth to offspring
once about every two years with seasonal breeding taking place
generally sometime between January and April. Females provide
the care for the young by holding, protecting and feeding them
until mature, while males – especially alpha males – provide
protection for the group members. Males become fully developed
sexually between the ages of seven and ten while females become
sexually mature at age four; however, females often wait around
three years after this before they have offspring of their own
(Encyclopedia of Life 2011).
The C. capucinus, however, often engages in sexual activity without
the purpose of conception, or outside of the peak of seasonal breeding. This
behavior is not typical of other species of monkeys and is thought to be
contributed to the fact that females show no physical changes when they are
fertile, or capable of conception (Muniz et al. 2010). Before, and sometimes
after, sexual activity, both the male and female participate in a courtship
dance. This dance includes protruding their lips into a “duckface” and
chasing each other. The dance ends with either the female presenting herself
to the male or the male grabbing the female in which she can either scream
in disagreement or accept (Manson et al. 1997).
In situations where an alpha male fathers large amounts of young he usually
only sticks around for about seven years. This is a practice called
dispersal; the male leaves in order to avoid having sexual relations with
his daughter. Such mating could result in death of the offspring due to
complications because of inbreeding. If an alpha does stay longer, both the
daughter and the father avoided sexual relations in order to engage in more
efficient reproduction (Muniz et al 2006).
Photo Courtesy Roy Toft ©
Click here to see a baby white-faced capuchin taking a bath!