Another monkey species is now on view at the Zoo, with the arrival of seven Black-capped Capuchins.

This species is native to South America, but these seven individuals were all born in New Zealand zoos.

The four females came from Hamilton Zoo and the three males came from Brooklands Zoo.

They have all successfully completed their quarantine period at the Zoo's veterinary centre.

Now they have been moved into the Arboreal Primates exhibit, near to other treetops-living primates such as the African Black and White Colobus and the Southeast Asian White-cheeked Gibbons.

The newly-arrived females are noticeably lighter in colour than the males, which is usual with this species.

In the wild, this species also lives in groups with similar numbers of males and females, rather than forming a pair like the White-cheeked Gibbons or a polygamous grouping like the Lion-tailed Macaques.

In their native South America, Black-capped Capuchins are found in primary and secondary rainforest through to semi-deciduous lowland areas.

They have a varied diet, including many kinds of fruit, nuts, seeds, pith, and nectar, plus animal prey including insects, chicks, frogs, reptiles, bats, and even small mammals weighing up to 900g.

Black-capped Capuchins are acknowledged as being one of the primate species that uses tools. For example, they use rocks to help them crack open the nuts that feature in their diets.

Photograph courtesy Herald Sun