research worker have discovered that one population of ashen - faced capuchin monkeys in Panama have entered the Stone Age . The monkeys have started using pit tools to let on nuts and shellfish , work them the quaternary type of order Primates to do so after us .
As report inNew Scientist , the group inhabits Jicarón island , a lowly island off the sea-coast of Panama and part of the Coiba National Park . Three island make up the national commons , with capuchin monkeys on all three of them . However , only the monkey on Jicarón have started using puppet – and not all the capuchins at that . Only the male in a finicky part of the island utilization them . A paper with the findings is currently useable onBioArXiv .
“ We were surprised that this behaviour appear to be geographically localised , ” lead author Brendan Barrett at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology toldNew Scientist .
The first written report of this behavior in the park ’s scalawag dates back to 2004 , when co - generator Alicia Ibáñez noticed the monkeys using endocarp tools . Researchers went back in March 2017 and placed camera hole across the three island to catch the monkey in the act .
The team witnessed the male person monkeys break coconut tree , pubic louse , and snails . However , it is undecipherable why this behaviour is not more spread out to other chemical group on the island . The researchers note that single monkeys move between groups , so in theory the innovation should spread out .
The team suggest that it is possible that go in the Stone Age has a chance element to it , rather than being an ask trajectory for primates . Perhaps , for example , a smarter - than - average individual begin using the tools and the others replicate him . contribute limited food options , puppet can increase their luck of survival .
The squad hope that more research and further watching of these monkeys will help excuse what is going on .
The white - look Cebus capucinus are the second American specie to introduce the Stone Age . Another grouping of Cebus capucinus , set up in South America , use stone tool and may have done so for700 year . The other two metal money aremacaquesin Thailand and chimp in West Africa .
[ H / T : New Scientist ]
