Cebus Erxleben, 1777

Voss, Robert S. & Fleck, David W., 2011, Mammalian Diversity And Matses Ethnomammalogy In Amazonian Peru Part 1: Primates, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (351), pp. 1-81 : 34-35

Genus Cebus Erxleben, 1777

The white-fronted capuchin ( Cebus albifrons ) and the brown capuchin ( C. apella ) occur sympatrically throughout the region treated in this report. Their ethnobiology is conveniently summarized in a joint account.

ETHNOBIOLOGY: Capuchin monkeys are called bëchun by the Matses. They are also known by the archaic synonym koekid ‘‘one that says ‘ ko. ’ ’’ The monomorphemic term chidu is used in a Matses myth to refer to capuchin monkeys, and chidu is also the principal term for capuchin monkey in the closely related language of the Kulinas, whom the Matses raided and from whom they incorporated many captives. Most Matses speakers do not list chidu as part of the ‘‘official’’ game synonym set for capuchins ( Fleck and Voss, 2006), but consider it a synonym reserved for telling myths. Other Matses insist that, because it is a legitimate and archaic name, it should not be excluded when listing game synonyms.

Two types of capuchin monkey are universally recognized by the Matses: bëchun çhëşhë ‘‘black/dark-colored capuchin’’ (the brown capuchin, Cebus apella ) and bëchun uşhu ‘‘white/light-colored capuchin’’ (the white-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons ). The term bëchun (unmodified by çhëşhë or uşhu) can refer generically to both local species of capuchin monkeys, or specifically to the brown capuchin. The brown capuchin is called by its full name, bëchun çhëşhe¨, only when there is a need to be specific. Some hunters recognize two varieties of brown capuchin: bëchun çhëşhëdapa ‘‘large dark capuchin monkey’’ and bëchun çhëşhëmpi ‘‘small dark capuchin.’’ The large variety is said to travel in smaller troops, and be found more commonly in upland forest; the smaller variety is said to be the more common one and is found more frequently along rivers. Most hunters, however, do not recognize these subtypes of brown capuchin monkey.

Old people can eat capuchin monkeys, but young people believe they will become lazy and unenergetic if they eat them. As with the howler monkey (see above), this lassitude can be cured by application of frog poison to burns on the arms or chest. Some Matses say that young people will also age prematurely if they eat capuchin monkeys. Young capuchin monkeys are sometimes raised as pets, but most Matses prefer not to raise them because they are too mischievous, breaking chicken eggs, masturbating, and constantly getting into everything. The canines of brown capuchin monkeys are considered good for making tooth necklaces.

Both capuchin monkey species are hunt- ed in the same way. Hunters usually do not make much of an effort to find capuchin monkeys because of the partial dietary taboo, especially now that mostly shotguns are used and hunters do not wish to expend valuable ammunition on food that only old people can eat. Matses hunters detect capuchin monkeys when they hear them knocking hard fruits against branches, or when they hear vocalizations or the noise of rustling branches as the monkeys travel through the canopy. When a Matses hunter imitates capuchin calls, the monkeys usually respond loudly but seldom actually come toward the hunter. When capuchins are being chased, they sometimes drop to the ground and run on the ground. When this happens, dogs will try to catch them, but capuchin monkeys are strong and easily kill dogs by biting them. Hunters must be ready to kill capuchin monkeys fighting with their hunting dogs, but capuchins also bite people if they are carelessly approached.