Definition

Noun 1. A species of New World monkey: Cebus capucinus is the scientific name for the white-headed capuchin or white-faced capuchin monkey. It is a primate native to the forests of Central America and South America. 2. Distinctive physical characteristic: This monkey is notably characterized by hair on its head that is black or dark brown on the sides and lighter (white or cream) on the top, creating a pattern that resembles the cowl (hood) worn by Capuchin monks, from which its common name is derived.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Cebus capucinus is known for its high intelligence and tool-use capabilities.
  • Researchers observed a group of Cebus capucinus foraging for fruit in the canopy.
  • The distinctive "cowl" of the Cebus capucinus makes it one of the most easily recognizable New World monkeys.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic context: The name follows binomial nomenclature, where is the genus and is the specific epithet. It is used in scientific literature to precisely identify this species.
  • The study focused on the social structure of Cebus capucinus.

Variants and Related Words

• Capuchin monkey / White-headed capuchin / White-faced capuchin (n): The common English names for .
  • Capuchin monkeys are often featured in movies and television shows.
• Cebus (n): The genus to which this species belongs, encompassing other capuchin monkeys.
  • The genus Cebus includes several species of robust, intelligent primates.

Synonyms

• Capuchin (n): The most common shorthand name for monkeys of this genus, particularly .
• New World monkey (n): A broader categorical term describing monkeys from Central and South America, which includes .

Noun

1. monkey of Central America and South America having thick hair on the head that resembles a monk's cowl