Cup tool use by squirrel monkeys.

摘要: Captive-born male and female squirrel monkeys spontaneously 'invented' a cup tool use technique to Contain (i.e., hold control) food they reduced into fragments for consumption water collected from valve drink. Food was observed more frequently than use. Observations indicate that 68% (n = 39/57) of in this population used (a plastic slip cap) food, subset these monkeys, 10% (n = 4/39), also water. Cup optional did not replace, but supplemented, the hand/arm-to-mouth eating direct drinking exhibited by all members population. Strategies bring cups together processing activity at preferred upper-level perching areas, arboreal-like environment which lived, provides evidence may plan with cups. Specifically, prior obtained first before or floor simultaneously, transporting both items areas. After rarely dropped often placed onto perching. Monkeys subsequently returned previously on after activity. The latter behavior is consistent possibility keep sites future merits experimental investigation. Reports spontaneous are rare report population-level These findings offer insights cognitive abilities provide new context studies genus comparative other primates.