Predatory threat of harpy eagles for yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys in the Atlantic Forest

• Published in: Primates Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 141 - 147
• Main Authors: Suscke, Priscila, Verderane, Michele, de Oliveira, Robson Santos, Delval, Irene, Fernández-Bolaños, Marcelo, Izar, Patrícia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 01.01.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Ecology; Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brazil; Cebinae - physiology; Eagles - physiology; Evolutionary Biology; Female; Food Chain; Forests; Harpia harpyja; Life Sciences; Male; Monkeys & apes; Motor Activity; Original Article; Predation; Predators; Predatory Behavior; Primates; Zoology; Atlantic Forest; Prey–predator interaction; Alarm call; Antipredator behavior; Predation risk; Sapajus xanthosternos; Harpia harpyja
• ISSN: 0032-8332; 1610-7365
• DOI: 10.1007/s10329-016-0557-8

We describe seven encounters between different harpy eagle individuals ( Harpia harpyja ) and a group of yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys ( Sapajus xanthosternos ) in Una Biological Reserve. These interactions lasted 58 min on average. In each of those encounters, the capuchin monkeys used particular behavioral strategies against the harpy eagle that were not employed in reaction to other aerial predators. We did not observe any successful predation events, but after one of those encounters an infant disappeared from the capuchin group. As a whole, these observations indicate that the presence of harpy eagles in the group’s home range increases predation risk for capuchin monkeys. The present report also suggests a reoccupation by H. harpyja of this area, as no previous recent records identify harpy eagle occurrence in Una Biological Reserve.