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Science 10 December 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5703, p. 1909
DOI: 10.1126/science.1102558
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Brevia

Capuchin Stone Tool Use in Caatinga Dry Forest

A. C. de A. Moura1,2* and P. C. Lee2

Wild capuchin monkeys inhabiting dry forest were found to customarily use tools as part of their extractive foraging techniques. Tools consisted of twigs and sticks, often modified, which were used to probe for insects and, most frequently, of stones of a variety of sizes and shapes used for cracking and digging. The use of tools for digging has been thought to be restricted to humans. These monkeys, living in a harsh dry habitat, survive food limitation and foraging time constraints through their extensive tool use.

1 Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EU, UK.
2 Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: acdam2{at}cam.ac.uk

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