Monkey FAQ's: Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Coco, and some information on monkeys like her!
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia) Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria) Order: First Order Mammals (Primatea) Family: Cebidae.
What kind of monkey is Coco? Coco is a Capuchin monkey. The name Capuchin is derived from the italian word Cappucino. Although you may recognize that word as a type of coffee drink, it also means "hooded one". Capuchin monkeys were named after an order of Franciscan monks who brought religion to the rainforests where these monkeys lived and were known for their long hooded robes and capuche (small hats). The monkeys, whose heads bear markings that resemble the monk's small hats were thus dubbed capuchin monkeys.
Where do Capuchins live? Capuchins can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America.
How long do monkeys live? Typically, monkeys in the wild live between 20 and 25 yrs. However, in captivity they can live
into their 40s!
How old is Coco? Coco is 24 yrs old and as healthy and strong as ever!
What does Coco eat? Coco is on a steady diet of specially made monkey food which is high in protein and vitamins. She also eats lots of fruit including grapes, apples, oranges, melons and yes, of course, she loves bananas, (though her favorite special treat is potato chips!).
How much does Coco weigh? Coco weighs about 8 pounds.
Where can I get a monkey? It is illegal to obtain a capuchin monkey (or any other kind of exotic animal) with out a special license. These licenses very rarely issued. When they are issued, they are only available to professional animal trainers/keepers and will not be granted to anyone without proper training, education, facilities, etc. While monkeys seem like they'd be great pets, they are a lot of work and need constant special care and training that most people aren't able to provide for them.
Here are some additional interesting facts about Capuchins:
Capuchins were originally introduced as Organ Grinder monkeys in the late 1800s because of their high level of intelligence as well as their small size, disposition and their ability to adapt to North American climates.
Capuchin monkeys are incredibly adept, learning to use tools to get what they want. Their intelligence is said to reach that of a 3 year old child.
Capuchins communicate through facial expressions, body posturing and a variety of sounds; chatters, squeaks, shrieks and lip smacking.
Capuchins are very social usually pairing for life. Their main social activities are
playing, grooming (nit-picking), eating and napping. There is a pecking order within the troop.
Capuchins are important to humans because they can help us learn about intelligence. Since capuchins are considered the most intelligent of all the New World monkeys, they are often used to help disabled people.
The capuchin's body slender, with thin limbs, allowing for quick, agile movements. They have five fingers on their hands with no opposable thumb to enable them to grip the tree bark firmly while climbing. Their feet have four finger long toes and a opposable big toe used for grasping around limbs to propel them across the trees. Their long tail is prehensile, or able to curl around things for extra balance and grip.
**As part of the show, Tony offers a special educational information period where he explains these facts and more about Coco. He teaches the audience about her anatomy, including her big ears, her prehensile tail and her giant monkey feet! During this time, kids are allowed to ask Tony anything they want to know about Coco and her Capuchin counterparts!
