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The white-faced capuchin is a species of monkey living in Panama. Scientists have observed Capuchins using stones as tools.
(Cia.gov)
A group of Panamanian monkeys may have entered their own stone age
according to scientists
A population of white-faced Capuchin monkeys living on the island of Jicarón was observed using stones to crush nuts. shells, New Scientist reported Monday.
The scientists made the discovery for the first time in 2004, but returned to the island in March 2017 with cameras to catch the monkeys in the act.
Scientists do not know when islanders, aged 6 million years, started practicing, but believe that skill was learned "by chance". Scientists said the practice was only evident in a few males.
No other neighboring population was observed using stones, according to the report.
The discovery marks the fourth largest group of non-human primates that used stones for tools. Other species with similar practices include chimpanzees in West Africa, macaques in Thailand and other capuchin species in South America, reported New Scientist. A few decades ago , scientists believed that humans were the only species to appropriate stones. The stone age for humans began 2.5 million years ago.
Bradford Betz is a publisher for Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @bradford_betz.
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