Do capuchin monkeys use weight to select hammer tools?
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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
Published on: November 11, 2011
Cornelia Schrauf1, Ludwig Huber, Elisabetta Visalberghi
1Department for Neurobiology and Cognition Research, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria. conny.schrauf@chello.at
Abstract:
The extent to which tool-using animals take into account the properties of the tool is little explored. The use of percussors to crack open encapsulated fruit is a complex form of tool use, the choice of an adequate tool being a critical aspect in success. Several properties (e.g., material, resistance, friability, shape and weight) affect the suitability of an object to open a hard-shelled nut, with weight being amongst the most important factors. In general, heavier tools require fewer strikes to crack open a nut.
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