The aim of our research is the study of the development of young tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) from a semi-free group, with an emphasis in manipulative behaviors. In the present study, we discuss the relations between the appearance of tool-use in nutcracking and social and object play. Social play occured mainly among infant and juvenile subjects. Object play is often indistinct from exploratory activities and increased during the first year of life. The appearance of the use of tools for cracking nuts, between the second and the third year, is related to exploratory manipulation because of its importance for trial-and-error learning. Social play may facilitate tolerance among subjects and hence favour the observational learning of nutcracking.
Play; Tufted capuchin monkeys; Tool use; Learning
